Florence L (Ahlquist) Link

Florence Ahlquist Link went home to be with her Lord Monday, January 16, 2017. Florence was born June 16, 1924 at the Ahlquist family farm in Scarborough to Rudolph and Marjorie (Chadbourn) Ahlquist. Florence was an accomplished student who was able to graduate from Scarborough High School in June 1940 at age 15. Being the oldest of five children, growing up on the farm during the depression years, and having helped raise her siblings, she developed many important skills that served her well throughout her life. At age 16, she took over running Hazel Merry’s diner on Commercial Street until the pipes froze, forcing the diner to close. When she turned 18, she worked as a ship fitter at the South Portland Naval Yard. She was trained to read blueprints and to oversee the assembly of Liberty Ships. Florence joined the WAVES at age 20 and graduated top of her class at Fairchild’s Aeronautical School in New York City. She was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas where she served as lead person in the new aerial camera repair division. It was there that she met her future husband Gerald Link. After the war they moved back to Scarborough where they raised three daughters. When the youngest daughter started school, Florence enrolled in Gorham State Teachers College to pursue a degree in teaching. She went on to earn two Masters Degrees and a certificate of advanced study. She taught elementary school for 25 years in the Portland and Scarborough schools. She introduced new programs such as Future Problem Solving and brought her students twice to national competitions. She was President of Cumberland County Retired Teachers Association for nine years. She and Jerry remained active in First Lutheran Church where they both served in many capacities. She helped launch Portland Area Lutheran Saints (PALS). Florence was a member of Elizabeth Wadsworth Chapter of Daughters of American Revolution and the Pythian Sisters. She was predeceased by her husband Gerald Link; her parents, Rudolph & Marjorie Ahlquist; siblings Leroy (& Evelyn) Ahlquist, Pauline (& Robert) Ferrara, Earle Ahlquist and sister-in-law Patricia Ahlquist, nephew Philip Ahlquist, son-in-law Dan Jochem. She is survived by daughters Marjorie (Norman) Shaw, Karen Stoll, Jayne Jochem; and Brother Edward Ahlquist; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Her family is grateful for the loving care provided by the Scarborough Veteran’s Home during the last two years of her life. A celebration of life will be held on June 17, 2017. The time and place will be announced. Interment will be next to her husband at Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Augusta, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Lutheran Church, 132 Auburn St, Portland, ME 04103 or Cumberland County Retired Educators Scholarship Fund c/o Karen Oak, 30 Liza Harmon Drive Apt 13, Westbrook, ME 04092. Online condolences can be expressed at blaisandhayfuneralhome.com