FORT FAIRFIELD – Helen Kelleher Titcomb, 92, passed away Saturday morning, Dec. 31, 2011, at a Presque Isle health care facility. She was born Feb. 1, 1919, in Fort Fairfield, daughter of Philip M. and Elizabeth (Reed) Kelleher.
Her maternal grandparents were the late Philo and Maria (Foster) Reed of Fort Fairfield, and her maternal grandparents were the late Dr. Bartholomew and Mary (Fitzgerald) Kelleher of Orono and Bangor. Helen was a graduate of Fort Fairfield High School, class of 1937 and graduated from Aroostook State Normal School in 1940. She was married to the late Raymond R. Johnston Jr. and to the late Gilbert M. Titcomb of Fort Fairfield. Helen taught school in New Sweden, Easton and Fort Fairfield, and served briefly as acting librarian at Fort Fairfield Public Library. She served on the Republican Town Committee and as vice-chairman of “Rockefeller for President” drive in Aroostook County. Helen was a member of the former Twenty-Thirty Club, and Society of Mayflower Descendants, as a descendant of Mayflower passenger, Francis Cooke. Helen had been a member of Fort Fairfield United Parish Church for many years, where she served for some time as superintendent and treasurer of the Sunday school.
In addition to her parents and husbands, Helen was predeceased by one son, Raymond R. Johnston III. She is survived by one son, Stephen R. Johnston of Mariaville; one half brother, Charles R. Fowler and his wife, Donna, of Fort Fairfield; one stepson, Gilbert M. Titcomb Jr. of Fort Fairfield; one stepdaughter, Lorena Chapman of Alfred, N.Y.; one grandson, Troy A. Johnston of Portland; one granddaughter, Anne J. Soucy of Queensbury, N.Y.; stepgrandchildren, Lisa and Troy McLaughlin of Bangor, Lois, Rebecca and James Chapman Jr. of Alfred, N.Y.; nieces, Mary Fowler of Portland and Jenny Sage Hunt of Basking Ridge, N.J.; nephew, Tom Sage of Friday Harbor, Wash.; great-nieces, Clara Reed Hunt and Amanda P. Hunt, both of Basking Ridge, N.J.
Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main St., Fort Fairfield. The funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at United Parish Church, 4 Church St., Fort Fairfield, with the Rev. Diane Langworthy officiating. A time of continued fellowship with refreshments will be held after the funeral service in the church vestry. Spring interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Fort Fairfield. Those who wish may contribute in memory of Mrs. Titcomb to United Parish Church Memorial Fund, care of Mrs. Betty Kent-Conant, 18 Harding Ave., Fort Fairfield, ME 04742. Envelopes will be available both the funeral home and church.