SEABROOK BEACH, N.H., and GROVE CITY, Fla. – Victoria Dolan (Salem) Wilder died peacefully Oct. 24, 2007, surrounded by her family, in Hanover, N.H. Vicki was born Nov. 2, 1916, in Millinocket, the fifth of seven children to John and Nazera Salem. She attended schools in Millinocket and graduated from Stearns High School, Class of 1935. In 1941 she married Francis X. Dolan and together they raised four children. She owned and operated the family grocery store on Congress Street with her sisters until the early 1960s, when she and her husband opened Dolan’s Market in the New Development. She was active in Daughters of Isabella and the Business and Professional Women’s Association while in Millinocket. After Francis Dolan died in 1967, Vicki sold her business and worked and lived in Florida, and New Hampshire. She married Edwin Wilder in 1980 and they continued to work at the Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande, Fla., until they retired to their homes in Seabrook Beach, N.H., and Grove City, Fla., in 1995. Edwin Wilder died in 2004. Vicki was an avid bridge player and continued to play with friends and family right up until the time of her recent illness. She loved to be near the water, whether at the lakes and ponds around Millinocket or the beaches in New Hampshire, and Florida, where she spent many happy outings with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. Her homes were gathering places for her family, her many friends and neighbors in every season; she loved to feed them all and was a master at preparing a pot of soup or a batch of rigatoni at a moment’s notice. Vicki is survived by her four children; son, Gerald and Lynne Swindler of Hyde Park, Mass.; son, Frank and his wife, Gail, of Norwich, Vt.; son, Charles and his wife, Sue, of Edwards, Colo.; and daughter, Margaret Eckman and her husband, Bob, of Springfield, Va. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, one great-grandchild, many nieces and nephews, who found Vicki a constant and loving friend. A graveside memorial service to remember and celebrate Vicki’s life will be held 1 p.m. Nov. 2 at Millinocket Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to share their mem-ories of Vicki at a buffet lunch after the service at River Drivers Restaurant at the Rice Farm, Millinocket. Arrangements are being made by Rand-Wilson Funeral Home, Hanover, N.H., and Plummer Funeral Home, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Vicki’s name may be made to Norris Cotton Cancer Center, with checks payable to N.C.C.C. and mailed to D.H.M.C., Development Office, Attn: Michele Clark, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756.
VICTORIA DOLAN WILDER
