Murial Dubuc

Muriel Frances (Walker) Wardwell Dubuc, of Winter Park, FL, formerly of Skowhegan, ME passed away unexpectedly Wednesday August 24, 2011 of an aortic aneurysm. Daughter of Charles William and Eva Effie (LaCasce) Walker, Muriel Frances (Mim) was born July 22, 1913 in Skowhegan, ME. After graduating from high school at 16, Mim attended Colby College and graduated, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1934. She eventually went on to receive a master's degree from the University of Chicago. Upon graduation from Colby, Mim began a career as an English teacher. In 1938, she married Forrest H. Wardwell from Castine, but was widowed only two years later. Shortly thereafter, Mim enlisted in the Coast Guard where she served as a recruiter. While stationed in Hawaii, she met Joseph Alfred Dubuc, an Army man; they married in 1945. She remained in the Coast Guard Reserves (though called back to active duty during the Korean Conflict), eventually retiring as a Commander. Mim and Al traveled extensively through Europe, the Middle East, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and Okinawa as Al advanced in his military career. Mim taught at the military school while they were overseas. On Okinawa, she learned to drive right down the center of the fairway (to avoid the rough where she might see a snake). Upon Al's retirement in 1966 they moved back to her home town of Skowhegan. Mim continued teaching (in Madison and Skowhegan) for a number of years. The lure of a climate where they could golf year-round drew them to Florida. In 1989, Mim and Al moved to The Mayflower, a retirement community in Winter Park, FL, where they enjoyed golf, bridge, and wonderful friends. Al Dubuc passed away in 2003 after a period of declining health. Mim continued to teach tai chi, line dance, play bridge, write biographies for the Mayflower's newsletter and read voraciously. She maintained a long time membership in the DAR and Mayflower Society and was very proud of her "Yankee Heritage". All of her nieces and nephews marveled at her enthusiastic approach to life. Besides her husband of 58 years, J Alfred Dubuc, Mim was preceded in death by an older sister, Thetis, who died just a few days after her birth; a brother, William Norman Walker; and a sister, Lois Walker Richmond. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Sabra Chebby; William N. Walker, Jr., Ellen Richmond, Benson Walker, Martha Walker Barradas, and Matthew Walker, as well as several great-nieces and nephews. A service will be held at The Mayflower in Winter Park on Wednesday September 7th. Burial will be at a later date at the Maine Veterans' Cemetery in Augusta.