Virginia Foss Libby

FREEPORT Virginia Evelyn Foss Libby passed away peacefully on February 25, 2017, held in the love of her family and other dear ones. She was born June 1, 1921, eldest child of Lester L. and Hazel Torrey Foss, growing up in Hampden, Maine and graduating from Hampden Academy. Ginny was a member of the Class of ’43 at the University of Maine, Orono, where she majored in Home Economics and met Philip J. Libby, who would become her husband of 51 years. While he served his country during WWII, she taught Home-Ec in Washburn, Maine. Together they raised four children, gardened, canned piccalilli and vegetables, and for many years were active in the Fairfield Center Methodist Church before building a retirement home on land on the old Libby homestead “in Unity, just over the Freedom line.” There, in their retirement, they continued to garden, worked the woodlot and created a maple “sap camp,” thereby forever converting the family from the home-made Log Cabin-flavored syrup they were raised on to real maple syrup.

As a state officer in Eastern Star, Ginny enjoyed several years of traveling scenic byways throughout Maine and the Maritimes, with Phil as her chauffeur. They also enjoyed trips West, exploring Phil’s Montana roots, as well as trips to Utah and California to visit their son Rick and his family. Together, Mom and Dad served on the board of the Libby Family in America organization, based in Scarborough, contributing to the publication of Volume II of that history. They were active members of Unity United Methodist Church, where Ginny remained a member.

After Phil’s death in 1994, Ginny showed her Yankee grit, living for many years, alone “on the Hill” at the end of a dirt road – except for a few weeks just before Easter when she visited with her Florida sons and their families. In recent years she divided her time among her families in Freeport, Maine and Ocala, Florida.

During her many years as a homemaker, Ginny honed her seamstress skills and demonstrated her thrift – creating children’s clothing and coats, often from cast-off adult garments. During many summers, as Phil’s construction work took him to beautiful , sometimes remote, parts of Maine, she’d help create a temporary home – whether a tent, cabin or trailer – so the family could stay together, play and vacation near whatever bridge Phil was building.

Ginny founded and led a 4-H club in Fairfield Center for many years. There, besides sharing her love for music with her children, she was church organist for most of her 30 years in Fairfield Center, as well as substitute organist for Merrymeeting Chapter, O.E.S, where she was a member. She also belonged to Fireside Chapter, O.E.S., in Clinton. As her children grew and began to leave home, Ginny returned to her career as a Home-Ec teacher, working at the former Lawrence High School, now SAD #49, for several years. There, as the mother of three sons, she especially prided herself on teaching boys to cook and mend.

Ginny was predeceased by her husband Phil; her three brothers, Leon, Paul, and Donald Foss; and her youngest son, Richard. She is survived by her sister, Janice Foss Clement and her husband John, of Alton, New York; daughter, Judith Libby Brown and her husband W. Stephen of Freeport; son James Philip Libby and his wife Beverly of Ocala, Florida; son, Steven Foss Libby and his wife Beth of Ocala, Florida; daughter-in-law Madeline Libby of Newbury Park, California; grandchildren Kevin James Libby, Bruce Kozma, Amy Libby Brown, Jean Simona Libby, Anna Libby Brown, Katherine Mae Libby, Steven Webster Libby, Raymond Torrey Libby, Philip Steven Libby, and their respective spouses and partners; sisters-in law Virginia Foss Tracy and Jean Libby Alex and their husbands Junior and Joe, respectively, as well as nine great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other loved ones.

The family is grateful for the skillful care, enrichment and support offered in recent weeks by the CHANS Home Health & Hospice team and by the entire staff at AVITA of Brunswick.

A celebration of Ginny’s life will be held on Saturday, April 1 at Unity United Methodist Church at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Unity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 146, Unity, Maine 04988, or to Freeport Community Services, 53 Depot Street, Freeport, Maine 04032.

Arrangements under the direction of Lindquist Funeral Home, Yarmouth, ME.