DEDHAM and BANGOR – Florence Lunette Yoder, 84, passed away peacefully Saturday, March 5, 2005, with her children at her side at the Maine Veterans’ Home. Born March 6, 1920, to Cora and Sherley Young in Dedham, she graduated from Brewer High School in 1939, where she made a lasting impression on her teachers as a good student, who was also spirited and strong willed. In 1942, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps and served in Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, France and the Battle of the Bulge. She rose to the rank of Sergeant Tech 5. In late 1945, she returned to Dedham, but re-enlisted in early 1947. Upon returning to Germany, she met and married Charles Yoder, a good looking sergeant from North Carolina. It was a marriage that lasted more than half a century and produced four children, each born on a different military base. In 1956, Charles went to Korea, and Florence brought her family to Dedham. In the spring of 1957, their rented house burned down. A house raising was soon organized and over the next two weekends, townsfolk and relatives showed up and built a new house. It remains the family’s home. Florence returned for good in 1963 and worked at Emple’s Knitting Mills in Brewer for many years. She became active in the Dedham Congregational Church and Ladies Aid. She was a founding member of the Dedham Historical Society and the Bald Mountain Snow Riders. Florence was an expert seamstress who sewed all her young children’s clothing and was known far and wide for her crafts and colorful quilts. She and Charles loved traveling in their Winnebago. Each fall found them with friends and relatives at the Fryeburg Fair where she particularly enjoyed the “pig scramble”. Florence is survived by her four children, Charles Jr. “Butch” of New York, N.Y., Jerry Ann or Yarmouth, Karen Dyer of North Bradford, and Bob of New York, N.Y.; her sisters, Doris Kidder and Marilyn Holyoke; brother, Owen “Buddy” Young, all of Dedham; and many well loved and loving nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Charles Yoder, who died in 2001. Funeral services will be held 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at the Dedham Congregational Church, Dedham, where family and friends may visit from 4-5 p.m. Interment will be at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. Florence’s family would like to thank the caring staff of the Maine Veterans’ Home for their kindness and gentle support. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Florence’s memory to: The Dedham Congregational Church, P.O. Box 635, Holden, ME 04429 or The Maine Alzheimer’s Association, 163 Lancaster St., Suite 160B, Portland, ME 04101. Arrangements by Kiley Funeral Home, 69 State St., Brewer.
FLORENCE LUNETTE YODER
