AUGUSTA – Susan Klimas Witham passed away Sept. 5, 2011, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. Sue, as she was known to all her friends, was born Sept. 15, 1923, in Millinocket, the daughter of William and Barbara Klimas, immigrants from Lithuania.
She attended Stearns High School and was happy to have joined 14 other classmates in July for their 70th reunion, class of 1941. She was proud to have served the war effort during World War II as “Rosie the Riveter” building airplanes for the Air Force in Trenton, N.J. Sue married Robert Witham, Feb. 28, 1949, and together they moved to the Hathaway Farm, Medway, where they resided for more than 40 years. For a “city girl,” she learned to love the farm and all that entails – taking care of the animals, tending the gardens and cutting hay in the fields. She served as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for several years and the young women in her troop still remember her guiding hand. She loved crafts and was accomplished at crocheting and tatting, and won several awards for both at the National Grange Contests. She also worked as the daytime cook at Hamlet Restaurant, East Millinocket, for many years, serving many a breakfast and lunch to hungry paper mill workers.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Ann Witham of Lamoine; son, Robert L. Witham Jr. and his wife, Michele, of Augusta; grandchildren, Melanie Anne (Witham) Mistretta and her husband, Cataldo, of Mendon, Mass., and Jason Willis Witham and his wife, Jeannine, of Warwick, R.I.; as well as four great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Grindstone Road Cemetery, Medway, with Deacon Danny Watson, a friend of the family, officiating. A reception of family and friends will be hosted by Frank and Ann Davis at their home on the Powersville Road, Medway, after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in her name to Manchester Grange No. 172, P.O. Box 5, Manchester, ME 04351.