Grace Edna Schofield

RUMFORD -- Grace Edna Schofield (Dickens), 93, of Rumford died on Feb. 8, 2013 at the Rumford Community Home.

Grace was born in Coventry, England, the only daughter of Cyril and Pamela Dickens. She survived multiple German bomb attacks on her city and, just prior to the end of World War II, married Lt. Byron E. Scholfield of Zionsville, IN, whom she had met at a dance in Kenilworth, England. After the war, she came to the U.S. with other war brides on the Queen Mary and lived in Indiana and Ohio where she and Byron, who died in 1967, raised two daughters.

A woman of great elegance and wit, Grace charmed many with her style, personal stories, poetry recitations and English accent. She enjoyed her many visits to England, the theater, "Law & Order," and Agatha Christie mysteries. She especially loved spending time with her three grandchildren.

She instilled in her family an abiding love of everything English, particularly English literature and history. Because of Grace, her children and grandchildren have grown to appreciate the works of Shakespeare, the history of World War II, and a bottle of first-class champagne.

Grace is survived by her two daughters, Pamela and her husband, Walter Wilson of Watertown, MA, and Prudence and her husband, John Glaus of Rumford; three grandchildren, Hilary Glaus of New York, NY, Byron Glaus of Brookline, MA, and Analise Wilson of Watertown, MA; a brother, William J. Dickens and his wife, Barbara of Coventry, England; and several nieces and nephews in England and Indiana.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband and her brother, Frank C. Dickens and his wife, Phyllis.

The family thanks the caring staff of Rumford Community Home, Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, Rev. John Gensel, and the special women who were such wonderful companions to Grace in her home for close to seven years.

A celebration of Grace's life will be held in the spring at Dixfield Congregational Church at a date to the determined. Gifts in her memory may be sent to the church at P.O. Box 615, Dixfield, ME 04224.