Florence Gertrude Wilderman

MIDDLETOWN, RI - Florence G. Wilderman, 96, of 30A Freeborn Street, Newport, RI, died Thursday, April 7, 2005 at Grand Islander Health Care Center, Middletown, RI after a short illness.Born in Boston, MA on July 4, 1908, she was the daughter of the late Simon Frederick Gouthro and Gertrude Anderson Kronman. She was the widow of Charles A. Wilderman, who died in 1980. The Wildermans were married almost 54 years. Mrs. Wilderman lived the first 75 years of her life in Everett MA and relocated to Newport in 1984. While in Everett she was a very active member of the community in many capacities. She served as a trustee for the Parlin Memorial Library for 32 years and on the Everett Salvation Army Advisory Board for 17 years. She was a member of the Greater Boston Womens Auxiliary of the Salvation Army. A member of the Friendly Circle of the Blind for 44 years, she served as its leader for 27 years. This group entertained the blind community with a once a month dinner at the various churches in the area. She joined the Congregational Church in Everett in 1936 and over the years held just about every office including president of the Womens Fellowship and the Sigma Sigma Gammas. She served as chairman of the Memorial Committee, as a member of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Business Affairs. She was well known for heading up the lobster salad luncheons held at the church every year.In Newport she was a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and volunteered on a regular basis at its soup kitchen. She belonged to Church Women United and was active in the United Congregational Church in Middletown. She was a member of the Friendship Club of the Martin Luther King Center and a former member of its Recycled Teenagers Club. An active participant at the Edward King House she assisted at many of their Penny Socials. She served as hospitality chairman for the local NARFE Chapter # 869 for many years. At the time of her death she was president of the American Legion Auxiliary Newport Unit #7. She was an active member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary #4487 and until several weeks ago made monthly visits to the Bristol Veterans Home and helped run Bingo parties for the patients. She was an avid bingo player and enjoyed playing 500 Rummy whenever she could find a partner. During the 1940s and 1950s for a period of 17 years she was employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency as an undercover operative. She had many interesting stories to tell about those years. Mrs. Wilderman was generous and caring to both her family and her friends. She was always willing to help whenever she could, regardless of the circumstances, and not only her family, but also her extended family will sorely miss her. She is survived by her children Florence Archambault of Newport, Charles E. Wilderman of Okatie, SC, and William D. Wilderman of Moultonboro, NH; her sister, Helga Sampson of Everett, MA; her grandchildren Edith Todd of Little Compton, RI; Jane Luderer of Newport, William Wilderman of Lynn, MA; Nancy Gagne of Copake, NY; John Wilderman of Barrington, NH; and Douglas Wilderman of Warrenville, IL. She was also the grandmother of the late Charles E. Wilderman, Jr. and Thomas C. Archambault. She was the sister of the late Arthur Anderson, Henry Gouthro and Carl V. Kronman. She leaves eight great grandchildren, Laura Perkins of Middletown; Eric Todd of Little Compton; Kendra Scott of Syracuse, NY; Susan and Jennifer Wilderman of Candia, NH; Alexander and Connor Wilderman of Barrington, NH; Natalie Wilderman of Warrenville, IL and one great-great granddaughter, Lauren Ferreira of Tiverton RI.On Sunday, April 17 a memorial service will be conducted at the United Congregational Church on Valley Road in Middletown at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to The United Congregational Church, 524 Valley Road, Middletown, RI 02842 or to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary #4487 % Elaine Tobben, 54 Silva Ave, Portsmouth RI 02871 to be used at the Bristol Veterans Home.