YARMOUTH -- Barbara E. Anderson, a gracious woman known for her dignity, gentle humor and enormous heart, succumbed to a decade-long struggle with Alzheimer's disease on Sept. 11, 2012, while surrounded by her three children and caregivers at Bay Square in Yarmouth. Born in Providence, R.I., on April 23, 1928, to Percy and Gladys Wilkinson, Barbara was the oldest of three children. A graduate of Cranston High, she attended Bryant College prior to securing an administrative position at a Providence insurance firm.After meeting Pontiac, R.I., native Roger C. Anderson, a tall blonde graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Barbara, on a promise, waited patiently for his return from military duty in Korea. They were married on Nov. 29, 1952. In July 1963, Barbara and Roger loaded up two cars with three children aged 5 weeks to 9 years, and drove to a cottage on Great Pond in Rome, Maine. Roger, sales manager for International Supply Co., had the idea to expand territory and add a new division in Waterville. While lured to Maine with the promise to return to Rhode Island after a couple of years, roots began to take, new friends were made, and Barbara eventually released Roger from his side of the bargain. Settling on Sunset Terrace in Waterville, Barbara went about nurturing her children and providing a warm, welcoming home for family and friends. She was a very active leader in community organizations including the Auxiliary of Mid-Maine Medical Center, Waterville Women's Club, Women's Division of the Waterville YMCA and Waterville Historical Society. For 14 years, she volunteered as the manager of the Seton and Thayer hospital Gift Shops, ran them as a business, and turned over all proceeds from sales to benefit patient care. In 1994, Barbara was recognized by Mid-Maine Medical Center for her "10,000 hours" of service to the hospital. For many years, Barbara served as ward clerk for the Republican Party. Barbara also made time for golf as a member of the Waterville Country Club and was a member of the First Congregational Church. Anderson was a talented artist who studied with fellow artists throughout New England, and developed a specialty in primitive and decorative painting. She collected antique glass and enjoyed attending auctions. She had a close group of treasured women friends with whom she shared countless hours of bridge, bowling and golf, cups of coffee and glasses of wine. Every summer was spent "at camp" on Great Pond, before Mom found her beloved "Birchrock" on Long Pond. It was here that lasting memories were made with her expanded family, including her precious grandchildren. Barbara refined her blueberry pies with fresh picked berries from Blueberry Hill. Grandkids recall using worms "Nanabanana" helped dig in her garden. Her potato salad and congo bars were to die for, and while often copied, have never been duplicated. In retirement, Barbara and Roger moved to "the Red House" in downtown Belgrade Lakes Village where they marveled at the sunsets over Long Pond and participated in Audubon's annual loon count. They wintered in either Florida or Arizona. Eventually they moved to The Highlands in Topsham, then to Foreside Harbor in Falmouth, where Roger died in 2009. Barbara leaves behind her brother, Alan Wilkinson, and his wife, Alice, of Narragansett, R.I.; sister Jean Gallaher, of Oxnard, Calif.; and her children, Kurt Anderson and wife Janet, of Brunswick, Kim True and husband Jeff, of North Yarmouth, and Kristen Lanzer and husband Andrew, of Dover, N.H. She also is survived by beloved grandchildren, Sarah Anderson Walker and her husband, Alex, of Newton, Mass., John Anderson, of Cambridge, Mass., Emily True, of Somerville, Mass., and Ben True of Enfield, N.H. The family wishes to express deepest appreciation to the staff and friends at Bay Square at Yarmouth for their loving care and compassion during Barbara's three-year residence, and to Hospice of Southern Maine for their kindness and support in her final months. The family will hold a private celebration of Barbara's life. In lieu of flowers and in keeping with Barbara's generous spirit of volunteerism, the family suggests remembering Barbara through a random act of kindness or with a donation to the Maine ;(function() { var adKeyValue = 't='; adKeyValue+= escape('clio=ALZ'); adKeyValue += escape('&cobrand=MaineToday-CentralMaine'); adKeyValue += escape('&linktext=Alzheimer\'s Association'); adKeyValue += escape('&linkurl=https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=5080&5080.donation=form1&set.TributeType=MEMORIAL&set.custom.honoree_name=BARBARA ANDERSON&set.TributeMessage=A+gift+has+been+made+in+remembrance+of+BARBARA ANDERSON'); adKeyValue += escape('&fn=BARBARA'); adKeyValue += escape('&ln=ANDERSON'); var adClkUrl = 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?iu=/423686928/prod/obit-aff/obit-standard/clio-inline-1&' + adKeyValue + '&sz=1x1&c=161341218'; var adImpUrl = 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ad?iu=/423686928/prod/obit-aff/obit-standard/clio-inline-1&' + adKeyValue + '&sz=1x1&c=161341218'; document.write("<a href='" + adClkUrl + "' target=_blank>Alzheimer\'s Association<" + 'img' + " src='" + adImpUrl + "' style='width=1px; height=1px; display:inline;' /></a>"); }());, 170 US Route 1, Suite 250 Falmouth, ME 04105; or a charity of one's choosing.