Gwendolyn Kimball Cartwright Wingert

STUART, Fla. – Gwendolyn Kimball Cartwright Wingert left us all on the morning of May 15, 2013, peacefully and surrounded by loved ones at her home in Stuart, Fla.; her longtime residence. She was born April 5, 1930, Pontiac, Mich., where her paternal great-grandfather served as mayor, to the late George C. Kimball and Marcelyn (March) Kimball.
“Gwen,” as she was affectionately known by so many, met her future husband, Edgar C. Cartwright, while attending Michigan State College. Together they raised four children in Guilford, where the Cartwright family business, Hardwood Products was located. Gwen and Edgar traveled extensively for business and pleasure. Upon retirement at Mariner Sands, Stuart, Fla., Gwen enjoyed a close and enduring friendship with her golf group there. Several years after the death of her husband, Gwen met Dr. J. Paul Wingert, recently deceased, and they were married July 16, 1993, in Northeast Harbor. Gwen and Paul enjoyed each other during their later years summering in Southwest Harbor, while spending the winters at Mariner Sands, Stuart, Fla., golfing and enjoying a steady stream of visiting family and friends. While pregnant with their fourth child at Christmas time in 1954, Gwen was stricken with polio disease. She was believed to be the last victim in the state of Maine before the breakthrough discovery of the Salk vaccine. She fought hard to walk again at Warm Springs Polio Recovery and Rehabilitation Center, and also endured a painful muscle graft procedure. A determined, natural athlete, she was then able to play her beloved golf and triumphed over polio, finishing as runner up in the Maine State Golf Championship and competing throughout New England. Her other loves included fishing at Horseshoe Pond, sailing on Whetstone Pond, deer hunting at Nugent’s Sporting Camps on Chamberlain Lake, and bird hunting on Crow Hill Road, Abbot, in her faithful jeep. Gwen and Edgar entertained family and friends many summers on Moosehead Lake at the camp built by Beatrice Cartwright. She was also renowned for holiday decorating with an eye toward perfection. She was a lover of nature and all its creatures, and she and Edgar shared their love of the woods of Maine and the outdoors with their beloved children. Eventually, post polio syndrome took its toll and Gwen had to give up playing golf. She was an avid reader and spent many happy hours reading and watching wildlife from her porch overlooking the golf course. Throughout her life, Gwen strived to give back to the world and those less fortunate than herself. Her generosity touched many people throughout the years, often times discretely and unbeknownst, as was her way, and always done with a loving heart and genuine concern and caring for others.
Gwen is survived by two sons, Kim Cartwright and wife, Brenda, and their daughter, Joy, and Lance Cartwright and children, Hunter, Wyatt and Georgia; son-in-law, Gary “Wing” Fountain and sons, Nicholas and Clark; sister, Carolyn “Sissy” Milford; brother, George “Bud” Kimball and wife, Evie; stepson, David Wingert and wife, Cathy, and their children, Daniel and Katie; stepdaughter, Polly (Wingert) Tabeling and husband, Bill, and their children, Andy and Kate; brother-in-law, Donald Templet; and many special nieces and nephews. Gwen was sadly predeceased by two children: daughter, Pamela Cartwright Fountain and son, Lloyd Cartwright; as well as both her first and second husbands. Gwen faced many challenges and losses throughout her lifetime. Her strong will, love for her family, and fighting spirit always saw her triumph the challenge at hand and persevere. She will be greatly missed and always loved by so many whose lives she touched along her journey. The family extends very special and heartfelt thanks of gratitude to Bonnie Gilbert Page, a dear friend of Gwen and her children, who selflessly and whole heartedly undertook the duties of caring for both Gwen and Paul during the end of their lives.
The funeral will be held 1 p.m. May 25 at Mariner Sands Chapel, Stuart, Fla. There will be a private burial. A celebration of her life will be after at Mariner Sands Country Club, Stuart, Fla. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Gwen’s memory to American Red Cross National Headquarters, 2025 E St., Washington, DC 20006; or Special Olympics Florida, Development Dept., 1915 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont, FL 34711. Please write on check: donation to Martin County in memory of Gwen Wingert.