Wilma Parker Redman

Wilma was born in Gorham, Maine, on October 11, 1921, the daughter of Joseph E. Parker and Edith Graves Parker. Wilma attended Gorham schools, where she was a star athlete and honors student. She graduated from Westbrook Junior College (now the University of New England) in 1941, and finished her formal education at Connecticut College for Women two years later. In 1945, upon his return from the war, Wilma married Charles W. Redman, Jr. Together they raised two sons, Joseph Parker Redman, also of Portland, and Charles W. Redman, III, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. After nearly 70 years of marriage, Charles, Jr. pre-deceased Wilma in July of last year.

In addition to her family, Wilma dedicated her life to working for the community. She was an active member and served on the boards of many local non-profit organizations, including the United Way, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Museum of Art, and Portland Stage Company. She and Charles were loyal season ticket holders at Portland Stage for many years and delighted in helping bring top quality theater to the area.

She was a loyal alumna of Connecticut College; and up to the end of her life served UNE in many capacities, including as past Chairman of the Board of Trustees. She was a Deborah Morton inductee in 1981 and received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from UNE in 2002 among the many honors bestowed upon her for her dedication to the college.

Wilma was an accomplished cook and devoted Red Sox and Patriots fan. She enjoyed reading and spending summers with her extended family at their cottages on Little Sebago Lake. She loved a good joke and never shied away from providing valued advice whenever solicited.

Wilma is survived by her son, Joseph, and his wife, Jayne, and son, Julian; and by Charles, his wife, Melissa, and three grandchildren, Rebecca, James, and Michael, along with numerous nephews and nieces.

Wilma was pre-deceased by her sisters, Eleanor and Louise, and by their husbands, Clinton D. Merrill and P. Heyward James, respectively.

The family would like to acknowledge the many years of loving and nurturing assistance Wilma received from her team of caregivers, Bonnie Lou Randall, Judy Caparratto , Tonya Arsenault, Lori Chase, Anastasia Belova, and Linda Quimby

A celebration of Wilma’s life is scheduled for 2 pm on Friday, May 8, 2015, at the UNE Campus, 716 Stevens Ave. Portland, 04103.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to:

The Joseph E. and Edith G. Parker Scholarship Fund at the University of New England, 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland, ME 04103, or to:

Portland Stage Company Endowment Fund, PO Box 1048, Portland, ME 04104.

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Wilma’s online guest book