Vera E. Piippo

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Vera E. Piippo

HEBRON — Vera E. Piippo, 99, died Friday, October 26, 2012 at her home in Hebron. She was born in Harrison, April 28, 1913, the daughter of Daniel and Aino (Lehto) Piippo. Her family moved to East Hebron, where she attended the one room Alder Grammar School. As a young girl, she and her six siblings helped their parents run a small dairy farm. After grammar school, she traveled by train each day to attend Buckfield High School.

Upon graduation in 1930, she worked for her brother, Arthur, as a clerk and bookkeeper at his general store in East Hebron. Her older sister, Anne, helped her to attend Bryant and Stratton Business School in Boston, where she successfully completed a two-year course of study.

In 1943, Miss Piippo joined the Women Marine Corps, serving her country during World War II. Her career extended over 26 years, at military bases all over the world. She achieved the rank of Master Sergeant, and was the highest ranking and oldest non-commissioned officer in the Corps.

She returned to her home in Hebron in 1969 where she spent many happy hours with her family and friends, fishing for “brookies,” lake trout and salmon. She especially loved traveling and vacationing with her sister Alma’s family. Cross-country skiing with her neighbor, Ennie Timberlake, was her favorite winter activity. The Finnish-American Heritage Society in West Paris, was another of her interests. She was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in South Paris.

Miss Piippo was a source of great joy, love and fun to her nephew, Daniel Piippo of Brunswick and Sanford, FL, and her nieces, Dotty Gnauck and her husband Richard of Brunswick, Cathy Marquez of Orono, Marcia Moriarty, Marilyn Moriarty and husband, Jack Phillips, all of San Diego, CA and Tina Quittman and husband Tom Mitchell of Southhampton, PA and a nephew-in-law, Cliff Walker of Dallas, TX. Also surviving are many cherished grandnieces and nephews and great-grandnieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her sisters, Helmi Gustavson of New York City, Anne Piippo of Hebron, Regina Moriarty of Los Angeles, CA and Alma Quittman of Southhampton, PA; her brothers, Arthur Piippo of Hebron and Reino Piippo of Brunswick and a beloved niece, Sandra Jean Quittman Walker of Dallas, TX.

Graveside committal prayers followed by military honors will be held at a date and time to be announced, at the family plot in Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Arrangements by Dillingham & Son Memorial Chapel, 62 Spring St. in Auburn. On-line condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.