1933 - 2018
YARMOUTH - Virginia (Dinny) Wells Truesdale passed away June 30th at Bay Square in Yarmouth, at the age of 84. She was born in Philadelphia in 1933, and grew up on farms in Stratford and Devon, Pennsylvania. She attended the Agnes Irwin School and graduated from Miss Porter’s School in 1952. She met her future husband, William (Gruff) Truesdale at Prouts Neck, Scarborough, and was married in 1956. They began their married life in Greenwich, Connecticut, but moved to Cape Elizabeth, Maine in 1965. After Gruff’s death in 2005, Dinny spent most of her remaining years at Oceanview in Falmouth, moving to Bay Square this past February.
Dinny suffered from Posterior Cortical Atrophy, and as a result gradually lost her coordination, vision and memory, although she always retained her love of friends and family and her sense of humor. She was loved by the staff at Falmouth House and Bay Square and so appreciated their care.
Dinny is survived by her five children: Linda Truesdale of Charlestown, Massachusetts; Alison Truesdale of Yarmouth, Maine and her son Matthew Truesdale; Anne Truesdale of Durham, North Carolina and her son Ben Harris; Douglas Truesdale of Long Beach, California; and Will Truesdale of Yarmouth, Maine, his wife Kristina Truesdale, and their sons Joe and Lincoln Truesdale. She is also survived by her black lab, Digby, who has been lovingly cared for by Trish and Steve Fournier since Dinny became too frail.
While being a mother was her primary occupation, Dinny volunteered many hours at Waynflete School, Sweetser, and Peabody House in Portland. She was a trustee of Miss Porter’s School for many years, and earned the Daisy Pin award in recognition of her contributions to the school.
She was a gifted fly fisher, and spent time throughout her life at Spencer Pond and Heald Pond in the Jackman area. Fishing became a bond between her and Gruff, and they travelled together in Maine and to Montana, Colorado, Alaska, Florida, Canada and Patagonia to fly fish. Heald Pond, though, was a vital part of who Dinny was. Some of her ashes will be spread on its water so she will always be part of that special place, just as it was a part of her.
Her friends and family will remember her love of all animals and her farm in Cumberland. She was never happier than when she was riding the tractor, feeding the lambs, planting fruit trees, tending her flower garden, or collecting honey or eggs. At her empty-nester house, she slept on the unheated back porch, year-round, so that she could hear the coyotes, turkeys and deer as they foraged in the field below. Towards the end of her life, she would say that nature was her religion, and she instilled that sense of awe and appreciation in her children and grandchildren.
Friends and family are invited to share their memories and offer their condolences by visiting Virginia’s online guestbook at www.lindquistfuneralhome.com
A memorial service will be held at Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm in Falmouth at 1:30 on October 7th, 2018. Gifts in lieu of flowers in Dinny’s memory may be given to:
Gilsland Farm Audubon Center
20 Gilsland Farm Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
or
CHANS Home Health & Hospice
60 Baribeau Drive
Brunswick, ME 04011.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Lindquist Funeral Home, 1 Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth, Maine 04096. 207-846-4011
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