DOLORES (FINLEY) STARBIRD
SANGERVILLE, Dr. Dolores F. Starbird, 70, died unexpectedly, January 26, 2005, as the result of a snowmobiling accident, while vacationing in Canada. She was born in Waterville, July 24, 1934, the daughter of Frederick F. and Dorothy (Davis) Finley. Dolly graduated from Monson Academy, Valedictorian in 1951. She moved to Massachusetts to further her education and returned to Maine to pursue a career in education in the late sixties and early seventies, while taking classes at U.M.O. She held a number of positions in education from teaching to superintendent, in Maine and New Hampshire. She received her Doctorate of Education Degree from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee in 1985. She retired in the mid-nineties from Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Augusta, only to come out of retirement to be interim Superintendent of Schools in Dexter for a year and a half. Dolly had many hobbies, including gardening, quilting, and snow-mobiling. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sangerville. She contributed to the Wayside Theater in Dexter and was involved with the Abbott Memorial Library in Dexter.

She was a devoted mother, grandmother and a true friend to all that knew her. Dolly was predeceased by her beloved husband, John Sulden Starbird in 2002. She is survived by a brother, Richard W. Finley and his wife, Nancy of Vassalboro; a son, the Rev. Dr. Richard Hughes of North Reading, Massachusetts; a daughter, Sandra St. Louis and her husband, Maurice of Abbot; a son Daniel Hughes and his wife, Jackie of Norton, Massachusetts; 3 stepsons, John Starbird Jr. and his wife, Jayne of Arrowsic, Jeffrey Starbird and his wife, Sheila of Dexter, and Jere Starbird and his wife Kathy of Sangerville; a brother-in-law, Willard Starbird and his wife, Dolores of Sangerville; sisters-in-law, Gladys and Gardis Starbird of Dover-Foxcroft and Dora Starbird of Florida; 11 grandchildren and a great grandson; one aunt, Betty (Davis) Story of Whitefield; nieces, nephews, cousins and many special friends.

Graveside services will be held in the spring at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Dexter.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dolores F. Starbird Scholarship Fund, c/o Sandra St. Louis, P.O. Box 32, Abbot, ME 04406. Arrangements by Crosby & Neal Funeral Home in Guilford.

Graveside committal services for Dr. Dolores F. Starbird, 70, who died January 26, 2005, will be held 11:00 AM, Friday, May 20, 2005, at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Dexter, with the Rev. Dr. Richard Hughes and the Rev. Maury Landry officiating. Arrangements by Crosby & Neal Funeral Home.