Katharine Barndollar Hitz, formerly a Cape Porpoise resident, died Monday, April 26, 2010, in Santa Barbara, Calif., after a brief illness.

Mrs. Hitz was born on Aug. 5, 1916 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to May and Clarence Barndollar. She graduated from Adelphi Academy and worked for AT&T in Manhattan. While working in New York she met Russell Charles Hitz and they were married Feb. 10, 1940. Their marriage lasted more than 54 years until his death in 1994.

The Hitzes raised three children, a daughter and two sons. Mrs. Hitz is survived by her daughter, Carol Kenyon and husband, Fred, of Santa Barbara, Calif., and her son John and his wife, Judy, of Cape Porpoise. Mrs. Hitz was predeceased by her son Russell, Jr. in 2006.

Mrs. Hitz is also survived by three grandchildren, Avery Wilmanns, Patricia McKnight, and Amy Houle; and six great grandchildren, John and Craig Wilmanns, Cameron and William McKnight and Kate and Christopher Houle.

The family lived for many years in Longmeadow, Mass. before Mr. and Mrs. Hitz retired to Cape Porpoise in 1972. They renovated a home in Cape Porpoise where they lived for more than 24 years. Mrs. Hitz also lived for several years in Kennebunk before moving to Santa Barbara in 2001.

She had a life long passion for arts and crafts. She was an artist and produced many paintings primarily using watercolors and pastels. She also created many craft items and had her own craft business for several years.

While living in Cape Porpoise she was a member of the Kennebunk River Club and the South Congregational Church in Kennebunkport. She was also a docent for The Brick Store Museum working primarily at the Barry House. During their retirement the couple enjoyed a number of trips overseas traveling throughout Europe and South America.

Hitz had many fond memories of her childhood summers spent with relatives in New Marlboro, Mass. This will be her final resting place. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk, ME 04043.

James Greer Anderson

James Greer Anderson, 82, of Kennebunkport, died Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough, following a lengthy illness.

Born in Jersey City, N.J., to Andrew and Annabella (Kelly) Anderson, he spent his early years there. He and his family then moved to Woodridge, N.J., remaining until his junior year in high school. His father’s job took the Andersons next to Groveland, Mass., where he graduated from Groveland High School. He would later be active in several Groveland High School reunions.

Anderson served in the Army near the end of World War II as a tank crewman at Ft. Knox, Ky., and a prisoner of war guard for German soldiers of the Afrika Corps at Ft. Devens, Mass.

After an honorable discharge, he used his G.I. Bill to study advertising and public relations at Boston University.

Mr. Anderson formed his own public relations and advertising firms, James G. Anderson Associates, Inc. in Boston and James G. Anderson Associates, LTD in the United Kingdom. He represented business clients both nationally and internationally, which allowed him to travel extensively in Europe in particular, and also in some parts of the Middle East. He served as president of the International Advertising Association in the late 1970s.

He was a member of the Endicott College Portrait Group, his specialty was pastel portraits. He began in oils in his early teens, taking a bus from Jersey City to Newark for lessons.

Mr. Anderson was proud of his Scottish heritage, his parents having come to the U.S. in the 1920s. He enjoyed Scottish folk dancing wearing kilt, sporran and high dancing socks. With membership in the Royal Scottish Dance Society in Boston and Salem, Mass., he was able to share his love of heritage and dance with friends and residents of several nursing homes. He also admired – and recited – the poems of Robert Burns.

Anderson and his wife, Augusta, lived for many years in Topsfield, Mass., prior to moving to Maine in 2004. He enjoyed gardening and boating, fishing and skiing with his sons.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Mary Augusta Anderson now of Kennebunkport; two sons, David I. Anderson and wife, Maureen Graves Anderson, of Waterboro and Douglas M. Anderson and wife, Alison Knapp Anderson, of Belmont, Mass.; an elder brother, Donald M. Anderson of New Jersey and three grandchildren. He is also survived by his first wife, Jean P. Anderson of Groveland, Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be sent either to the Maine Veterans Home, 290 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074; or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 170 U.S. Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME, 04105.

Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel.

Gertrude Welch

Gertrude “Peggy” Welch, 93, of Kennebunk, died Friday, May 7, 2010 surrounded by family at Greenwood Center in Sanford.

Peggy was born in Eastport the fifth of six children, to Elizabeth (Hall) and Arthur Lesuer. She is predeceased by her parents, five siblings, her husband, Elton “Al” Welch and eldest son, Elton “Skeeter” Welch, Jr.

Mrs. Welch spent her early years in Eastport. Later the family moved to Millinocket where she graduated from Stearns High School in 1935. She married Elton “Al” Welch that same summer. He was a Kennebunk boy who was part of the cadre of young men with the Civilian Conservation Corp building Baxter State Park. The Welches returned to Kennebunk in 1937 where they raised three children. Mr. Welch died July 1993 after 58 years of marriage.

She worked over the years in a number of local businesses. She said her most rewarding occupations were those that involved children.

She is known as Aunt Peggy to many folks in town. After her retirement she was an avid reader, visiting Kennebunk Free Library weekly and an active participant of Christ Church, the Senior Center at Lower Village, 50 Plus Club and Golden Girls of Arundel.

She is survived by her son, Mike Welch, daughter, Gloria Nadeau, daughter-in-law, Betty Welch, nephew, Byron “Chuck” Lesuer of Millinocket, niece, Liz Weise of California and several other nieces and nephews; 11 grandchildren, Donna Nadeau, Tamara Nadeau-Mallory, Fredrick and Kim Nadeau, Stephanie Nadeau and Michael Marceau, Marcus Welch, Terry and Charlie Leech, Vicki Welch Feely, Cindy Welch, Sandra and Paul Thurston, Melanie Dickson, Kerry and Ben Cosmos; 18 great-grandchildren: Keeya, Taj, Owen, Scarlett, Ginger, Ricky, David, Kristy, Melissa, Andrew, Camille, Christopher, Amanda, Ashley, Zane, Valerie, Anthony and Benjamin; seven great-great grandchildren: Kayla, Nathan, Cole, Courtney, Curtis, Annabelle, Evan; and her special friend Barry Doughty.

Visiting Hours will be Monday, May 17, 5 to 7 p.m. at Bibber Memorial Chapel, Summer Street, Kennebunk. A Memorial Services will be Tuesday, May 18, at 11 a.m. at Christ Church, 6 Dane St., Kennebunk. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, send donations to Christ Church, 6 Dane St., Kennebunk, 04043

The services will also memorialize her sister, Elizabeth “Sunny” Bernard, born May 22, 1920 and died Aug. 8, 2008.Mrs. Bernard was a long time resident of Kennebunk where she raised her children. She was an active member of the 50-plus club, Golden Girls and Senior Center at the Lower Village with her sister and best friend, Peggy Welch.

Mrs. Bernard moved to Menifee, Calif., to live with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren and great grandson. Sunny suffered a stroke on April 10, 2008 and died in August of that year.

In lieu of flowers, send donations to Christ Church, 6 Dane St., Kennebunk, 04043.

Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel in Kennebunk.