SOUTH THOMASTON — Eunice E. Stadler, 92, died January 26, 2023 at the Knox Center in Rockland after an eight-year struggle against dementia. She was born Eunice Estella Brown on June 16, 1930 in Lima, Ohio to George E. and Mary Evelyn (Sanderson) Brown. After her birth, the family returned to the multi-generational Brown/Odiorne family home in the Floral Park area of Queens, New York.

When Eunice was ready to enter kindergarten, she was given the New York City public school’s intelligence test. She scored the highest in the history of the test at that time. She was advanced three grade levels during her first 8 years of school. In 1942, as World War II and the Depression continued, the family returned to her mothers’ family farm in Van Wert, Ohio. When Eunice entered high school, one of her classmates was her aunt. She felt very isolated and socially inept because of her young age in relation to the others in her grade and became a life-long advocate for enriching the gifted and not skipping grades.

Upon graduation, Eunice started studying at Wittenberg College with the desire to become a doctor. Her father was very much against this idea, as nice women were not doctors or nurses, they were teachers. Her father was a very education-oriented man who had been forced from school in the fourth grade to help support his parents and siblings. He had worked hard manual labor, and saw education as a way out of the grinding Midcoast Maine poverty he had grown up in.

Eunice studied Chemistry, Biology, and Physics; her father read every one of her and her brother’s texts books and was capable of discussing the subjects with them. When the time came to apply to medical school, she was told by her dean that he would not recommend her because she would take a position away from a man. Admitting defeat, Eunice turned to Education, graduating in 1951. She became one of the first woman certified to teach Physics after the atom was split.

Eunice and her brother, Jim, used to go back and forth to college on Jim’s motorcycle. After Jim had a motorcycle accident, he required medical attention at the college infirmary. It was there Eunice met an ex-army corpsman, George Stadler who was using the G.I. Bill to get his Bachelor’s degree, and hoped to go on to Divinity School.  For George, it was love at first sight; for Eunice, not so much.  He quickly wore her down, though, and they were married within 7 months of their first date in 1949. They were happily married until George’s death in 2010.

For many years, George and Eunice worked to build their careers and family. Eunice had gone on to get a Master’s Degree in Counseling Education and became a guidance counselor in several Ohio High schools. She also continued teaching Science classes. Together, they had four children. During the summer, when school was out, the entire family would visit South Thomaston where many of Eunice’s father’s people lived. In 1968, an opportunity arose for them to move their family to Maine: George was called to a church in Rockport, and Eunice found a job teaching biology at Rockland District High School.  

By the early 70s, Eunice had taught school for over 20 years and wanted a change. She returned to school, earned a Masters of Library Sciences degree, and took over the high school library when the long-time librarian retired. Eunice enjoyed the students and cultivated many special relationships that lasted until the time of her death. She took students on school trips to Europe and Boston. Eunice was active in the teacher’s union during her younger years, enjoying conventions with her teacher friends. Eunice continued with the S.A.D.5 School District in various library roles and other teaching positions until her retirement in 1992.

Eunice had many and varied interests, and would throw herself into each completely. One interest at a time, she would educate herself until she knew practically everything possible to know about her current interest. She spent many summers canning fresh produce from the large family gardens. She made an excellent sparkling blueberry wine. She was a more-than-capable cook, and made sure all her children knew how to cook, as well. One year, she decided that she was going to learn to umpire baseball and softball. She studied, took a class, passed the test, and spent many years umpiring games in Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties. She learned to bowl ten pin and play racquetball. She also excelled at hand crafts and was capable of making exquisite doilies and detailed cross-stitch. She knit many sweaters, socks, gloves, hats, and slip covers for stuffed animals.

Eunice enjoyed genealogy. She was quite proud of her deep roots in the United States, especially those in Maine and New Hampshire. The Odiorne family once owned what is now a large portion of the state of New Hampshire. There is still a State Park in Rye, New Hampshire that bears the Odiorne name.

Eunice believed in volunteering. For many years, she served the town of South Thomaston on the ambulance. Many of those years were spent as the Training Officer. She also received her EMT Certificate. Eunice enjoyed studying and teaching Emergency Medicine and was very good at instilling confidence in her patients. Some would only call the ambulance on nights they knew she would be on. Eunice was on call the night of May 30, 1979 when Downeast Airlines Flight 46 crashed, killing all but one.

After Eunice retired from teaching, she devoted herself to various volunteer project such as knitting hundreds of hats and mittens for various programs for Maine’s children. She gave thousands of hours volunteering at Pen Bay Medical Center through knitting projects, as well as volunteering at the front desk, gift shop, library and as escort. She often joked that her car knew the way to Pen Bay on its own.

Eunice had an active imagination and created stories for her children about their stuffed animals and the creatures of the Maine woods. One was based on a Dalmatian and her friends. The main ongoing story was based on a chipmunk family. Tami C. Munk was the head of a large company. Tami had a heart of gold, but a ruthless streak. Her many family members and other woodland creatures played their supporting roles. Each of Eunices’ children had a character(s) that reflected their personalities or ambitions. She was often told she should write down her stories.

Eunice had a quick dry wit and was not against a good-natured prank. For years, she and another teacher enrolled a chimpanzee in the high school under a fake name. Each year would be a different first name, and the last name Smith. They would arrange to have the students name called over the loud speaker and snicker between themselves. They issued grades and had him/her taking part in activities. It took the longest time for them to be caught.

Eunice continued her love of learning throughout her life by getting, watching, studying and taking the tests of all the great courses available to her. She was a life-long reader, particularly enjoying police procedural, historical fiction, and mystery. A true librarian to the end, her vast accumulation of books, movies, music and various collectables were all catalogued and located by her in quick order.

In her later years, Eunice enjoyed sitting in her yard swing during summer, in the sun room during winter, watching the Muscle Ridge channel. She liked to get an ice cream and a sandwich and sit at the Weskeag Marsh, watching birds and reflecting on the area before modern times. When it became difficult for her to read she got talking books. When she could no longer knit, she took up coloring. When she needed a walker to walk, she would tie her dog to the walker and they would walk up the road. Eunice knew she had dementia and did her best to fight it back for as long as she could.

Eunice is survived by her brother, James R. Brown of Sparta, Wisconsin; her children: George Mark (wife, Denise), Stephen, Laura, and Johanna Stadler; grandchildren George Matthew, Emily, Lydia, Winona, and Jessie; four great grandchildren, and her beloved dog Scruffy.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, George M. Stadler; and her two much loved Westies, Thistle and Maggie.

Per Eunice’s wishes there will be no services.

To share a memory or story with Mrs. Stadler’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, ME 04841