PRESQUE ISLE – Ethel L. Giles, 94, passed away July 14, 2010, at her residence. She was born Aug. 26, 1915, in Castle Hill, daughter of Isaiah and Lillias (Wood) Randall. In 1944 she married Stanley O. Giles of Patten in a ceremony in Island Falls. They took the train to Presque Isle and settled down in their home on Judd Street, renting rooms to soldiers and their wives from Presque Isle Air Force Base. Eventually, Ethel and Stanley had three children: Cleo, Neil and Eloise. Always interested in caring for others, Ethel’s next home served as a state licensed nursing home from 1953 to 1971. After her husband’s death, Ethel took over and operated Giles Lime Sales until her retirement in 1995, at age 79. Ethel was a member of Business and Professional Women Club and WCTU. After her retirement, she became a member of RSVP and received several awards for her volunteer work. She was a member of the Ashland, Mapleton and Presque Isle Senior Citizens Club and a member of Castle Hill Grange Hall Preservation Society. In 2001 Ethel received the Senior Health and Fitness Award from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and later was selected as Mall Walker of the Year at the age of 85. She also attended services at Wesleyan Church and State Street Baptist Church. Ethel was predeceased by a brother, Lindley Randall of Patten; and a daughter, Cleo Page of Mapleton. She is survived by one son, Neil Giles and his wife, Beverly, of Fort Fairfield; a daughter, Eloise Wood and her husband, Gordon, of Presque Isle; 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; stepson, Paul Giles and his wife, Diane, of Brewer; a stepdaughter, Libby Chase and her husband, Phil, of North Carolina; nine stepgrandchildren, many great-stepgrandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Saturday, July 17, at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle, with Pastor Larry Palmer officiating. Friends may call 1 p.m. until the time of service. Committal services will be at Fairmount Cemetery, Presque Isle. A reception will be held after the service at the reception hall at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Logan Graves Foundation, P.O. Box 429, Presque Isle, ME 04769.
ETHEL L. GILES
