AUBURN — Eva Rose Philbrook, 96, died Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Clover Manor.
She was born Feb. 22, 1922, daughter of Hattie Bates and Ernest Rose.
She attended Greene schools and graduated from Leavitt Institute in Turner in 1939. The summer after graduation, she worked for Sawyer Farms at its Greene ice cream stand. She worked for the Androscoggin County Probate office for five years. She joined Patrons Oxford Insurance Co., and worked as data processing supervisor for 35 years, retiring in 1987. She made many friends in the insurance industry. After retiring, she joined the Greene Senior Citizens, serving as president and secretary.
She was a member of the Baptist Church of Greene, serving on many committees and boards over the years. She was active in the American Baptist Women’s Group of the church. She served as trustee for 22 years for the Araxine Wilkins Sawyer Foundation, and later as assistant secretary and bookkeeper. She was a trustee of the Julia Adams Morse Memorial Library for 29 years, being on the original board that oversaw the building of the library. She enjoyed serving as ballot clerk for the town of Greene.
Her hobbies included quilting and made lap quilts for most of her relatives and friends.
She married Robert W. Philbrook in 1941, and together raised a son, Bruce, who died in 1976. They had 64 happy years of marriage, until the death of her husband in August 2005.
She leaves one grandson, Anthony Philbrook, and his wife, Rita; two granddaughters: Pamela Syme and Bethany Philbrook; two great-grandsons: Robert Bruce Syme and Joshua Philbrook; one great-great-grandson, Kendrick Philbrook; a daughter-in-law, Sharon Philbrook; a sister-in-law, Patricia Rose; and many nieces and nephews of whom she was very fond. She dearly loved her family.
She was predeceased by her parents; a son; her husband; a son-in-law, Tony Syme; two brothers: Harvey and Linwood Rose; three sisters: Eleanor Harlow, Margaret Moulton and Helen Rose. She loved playing 13 with two good friends: Marion Additon and Barbara LaFontaine, and Tri-ominos with her cousin, Walter Bates. Her special neighbor, Mark Campbell, was always there for her. Her friend, Althea Gillis, called her every evening at about 5 p.m. to make sure “all was well.” That is true friendship. She was still active in her 90-plus years.
Many thanks to Clover Manor (Clare Unit) and Hospice for the excellent and compassionate care.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Baptist Church of Geene. Burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greene Baptist Church, 102 Main St., Greene, ME 04236.
Eva Rose Philbrook
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