Obituary of Patience-Anne Williams Lenk

Patience-Anne Williams Lenk, 87 CHINA-Patience Anne Lenk passed away July 24, 2015 at home with her family by her side. Patience-Anne was born in Houlton on January 22, 1928 to Robert Hussey Williams and Margaret Chamberlain Williams. Educated in local schools, she graduated valedictorian of the Houlton High School Class of 1945. She received a degree in English Literature from Wellesley College in 1949 and later, a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Maine, Orono. She married Mortimer Lenk, son of Col. and Mrs. David Allen Lenk in Boston on January 22, 1953. She is survived by her sons David Allen Lenk II, Hillsboro, Virginia, Robert Williams Lenk, his wife Jane Seidenberg Lenk of Portland, Maine and grandson William Alexander Lenk of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following her graduation from college, she worked in the Children and Young Adults division of the Boston Public Library. Her early interests included community theatre; she belonged to Wig and Whiskers while living in Needham, MA and the Bowling Green Players while in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Patience-Anne was also active with the League of Women Voters, American Red Cross blood donor program and various Unitarian Fellowships. Following the family's move to Maine in 1971, she worked for 18 years in Special Collections--Colby College Library, assisting students and literary researchers alike. Following her retirement she remained active with the Western Maine Wellesley Club, American Association of University Women, China Historical Society, Waterville Community Garden Club and Feline-L, an on-line group of cat enthusiasts. A memorial service will be held in China Village at a later date. Memorial donations in her name may be made to the following organizations about which she cared deeply: Charley's Strays, PO Box 64 , Limestone, ME, 04750 Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, PO Box 6146 China, Village, ME 04926-0146 The Cary Library, 107 Main Street, Houlton, ME, 04730