Lola Ethel Kilgore

Notes:

The following was written by Evelyn Carol True:

Lola never married but lived at home in the family homestead with her sister Verna. The two cared for Mama and Papa until their passing, and then Verna married George Hopkins. After this time, Verna and George kept the homestead at 15 Erchles St. Rumford, Maine in the area known as Rumford Park and Lola moved out to start housekeeping in her own apartment, below the Park. She later moved to the Hotel Harris in downtown Rumford where she lived until just short of her 95th birthday when she independently decided it was time for her to go to a Nursing Home in Farmington, Maine.

When Verna died, she left the homestead to Lola. The Erchles Street house was a duplex and Verna and George had owned both parts. Lola sold the house and the money she received helped to maintain her in her old age.

Lola worked most of her life at the Railroad Freight office in Rumford. She was well loved by everyone and loved to do things for all her many nieces and nephews. She was very independent and always took great pride in doing things for herself. She would become very indignant if someone should call her an old maid. She considered herself "an unclaimed treasure".

When she was asked what was the secret to her long life, she replied, "ice cream." She could be counted on to bake a pot of beans for the Saturday night suppers at the Methodist Church in Rumford. If anyone she knew was not well, Lola was there with soup. Lola organized many family gatherings. She loved to make homemade ice cream, but the churning was left to the plentiful supply of young people she would gather around to help her.

Shortly before she passed on Easter Sunday, I had the privilege of a special visit with her. She had summoned me to come. She told me that, "He (Heavenly Father) told me I had to forgive that person." I told her, "it would be a gig weight off your shoulders if you could". She said, "I know but it's very hard after so many years." She talked of the little people with wings who had told her they would be with her when she went. She told me I had them too. I told her that, "I knew, but I wasn't ready to go yet."

In June, Lola passed on with Roger Kilgore at her bedside. She was 97 and a half years old.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA