Obituary of Lois C Whitcomb

Lois C. Whitcomb, 91, of Waldo, Me. passed away Saturday January 23, 2016 at Harbor Hill in Belfast. Born September 4, 1924 in Farmington, ME., she was the daughter of the late Walter Cohoon and Marion (Crowell) Cohoon. Lois’ passion was dairy farming and family. She spent most of her adult life on the Birches Road in Waldo, where she and her late husband of 52 years, Colby, together with their five children, grew Springdale Farm to national prominence for their Jersey and Guernsey cattle breeding. The farmhouse where she and Colby raised their family is a veritable museum, filled with trophies, ribbons, photos, plaques and awards from cattle shows at Maine Fairs and the “Big E”, Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. Lois graduated from Farmington Normal School with a degree in Education in 1945 and immediately enlisted in the Marine Corps. During her bus trip to Boston to be inducted, the war ended and when she arrived, her enlistment was cancelled. Lois later did graduate study at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. She was a strong supporter of education, particularly education in agriculture, serving both as an Extension Agent and a 4-H Extension Leader. Although she would never fly to another continent, she was an avid supporter of cultural exchange, hosting foreign exchange students, particularly students from international agricultural programs, beginning in the 1960s. Lois and her husband Colby were recipients of the New England Jersey Association Senior Breeder Award, and the Maine Dairy Industry Association and University of Maine Cooperative Extension Maine Dairy Shrine Distinguished Breeder Award. They were recognized by the Maine Legislature for excellence in the Dairy Industry in 2001. Lois was very proud that the National Grand Champion Dairy Cow in Madison WI, Pistachio Pie, was a direct descendent of her breeding line. Lois is survived by her five children, Walter Whitcomb and wife Nancy of Waldo, Ann Somers and husband David of Mystic CT, Nancy Quimby and husband Raymond of Brooks, Janet Whitcomb and partner Joseph Slocum of Belfast, and William Whitcomb and wife Crystal of Picture Rocks, PA. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Joel Whitcomb and wife Nicole of Harrisburg, No. Carolina, Carrie Whitcomb and partner Eben Miller of Waldo, Holly Whitcomb and partner Stephan Tassel of Waldo, Jennifer Somers and husband Chris Wells of Madison WI, Kate Degregorio and husband Derek, and Meghan Spencer and husband Kevin, both couples of Somerville MA, Candace Borland and husband John Uhren, of Toronto, Canada, and Brandon Borland and partner Francine Harris of Port-Cartier, Que. Also, step-grandchildren Sherry Kuiper and husband, Michael of North Carolina, Chris Quimby and wife Heather of Brooks and Julie Quimby and husband Jim Oshetski of Freeport, ME.; great-grandchildren Jayden, Lucas, Tess, Theo, Fred, Jordan, Emma, Andrew, Ella and Belle. Lois is also survived by a special cousin, Lois Seaman of Chesterville, ME. Lois would also be fondly remembered by farm helpers Vince & Ellen Greenleaf and scores of others. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Mount View Fund for Further Education, which Lois helped to initiate, in Lois’ memory. The address is Mount View High School, 577 Mount View Road, Thorndike, Me. 04986. Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, January 27th from 6:00-8:00 pm at Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 28th at 11:00 am at Brooks Congregational Church, with Rev. Russ Arnold officiating. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.ripostafh.com.