TOPSHAM – Clarice Penney Walker, 99, of Hancock and Topsham, died Nov. 4, 2011. She was born Jan. 25, 1912, to Lester A. and Marcia Young Penney.
Clarice graduated from Bangor High School in 1929, Emerson College in 1933 and Syracuse University in 1944. She taught speech, drama and English at Solon High School, at Houlton High School, and in Huntington, N.Y. Clarice delighted in receiving letters and visits from former students who told her of the impact she and her teaching had made in their lives. In 1945 she married John Douglas Walker Jr. and after World War II, they returned to Houlton, where she was active in AAUW and First Church of Houlton, Unitarian-Universalist. In 1970 she and Jack retired to her ancestral home in Hancock, a community they dearly loved. After her husband’s death in 1994, Clarice moved to The Highlands, Topsham, to be near her daughters. Her cheerful outlook; her direct, practical approach to aging; and her wit and wisdom delighted family, friends and staff.
Her survivors include her daughters, Jane Walker Woodruff and her husband, Frederick, of South Freeport and Sally Walker Madore and her husband, Jeffrey, of Cumberland Foreside. Additional survivors are her much-loved grandsons, Jonathan Woodruff and his wife, Akiko Okusu, of Amherst, Mass., Nathaniel Woodruff and his wife, Courtney, of Pelham, Mass., and Thomas Woodruff and his wife, Carrie, of Ipswich, Mass.; and five great-grandchildren. Her family thanks the staffs of Governor King and Cadigan Lodge at The Highlands and CHANS Hospice for the exceptional care, comfort and love they offered Clarice. Her daughters are most grateful.
A service will be private. Memorial donations may be made to Union Congregational Church, 1368 U.S. Highway 1, Hancock, ME 04640 or Crabtree Neck Land Trust, P.O. Box 273, Hancock, ME 04640.