Florence Catherine Dinnar, of Boothbay Harbor, died at the age of 93 after a short illness on Jan. 31, 2017.

Florence was born in Valley Falls, New York, on Oct. 19, 1923, the daughter of Ernest Grogan and Florence Slater. Growing up on a farm in rural upstate New York, she learned many skills that would help her to become a wonderful homemaker and loving mother. She was an avid cook, gardener, and developed a love of being outdoors. Her son, Ken has many fond memories of going fishing with her after school every day.

At the beginning of World War II, Florence moved to Schenectady, New York to work in a General Electric plant, installing two-way radios in tanks. She was a real Rosie the Riveter. That is where she met her husband, Leo Dinnar, 1st. Lt. U.S. Army Air Corps, who was on an inspection tour. After a short romance, she drove to Florida where he was stationed and had an army wedding. Their first daughter, Alice, was born while Leo was overseas. They remained married 55 years, until Leo’s passing in 1998.

She came from a large, loving family and told many stories of growing up in the country. All her siblings, Ruth VanVeghten, Dorothy Meysner, Thomas Grogan, Kenneth Grogan, Anna Mae Grogan, and Shirley Mitchell, predeceased her.

Florence was the devoted mother of daughters Alice and her husband Charles Richter of Whitingham, Vemont and Deborah Falton of Lakeland, Florida, who predeceased her, and her son, Kenneth Dinnar and his wife Joyce of Boothbay Harbor. She was also the proud grandmother of seven, great-grandmother of eight, and great-great-grandmother of one.

Over the years, Florence lived in New York, Connecticut, and finally moved to Maine about 10 years ago, with her son, Ken and wife Joyce, and Joyce’s mom, Joyce Ruppert. Over the years, Flo, as she liked to be called, also “adopted” her extended family, Louis and Susan Ruppert and their sons, along with Curtis Ruppert ... all of Joyce’s family, who shared many holidays and visits.

In Flo’s last year, when it became unsafe for her to be alone, she moved into Safe Havens in Boothbay Harbor, where she was lucky to find a staff of truly caring people.

As she wished, there will be a private graveside ceremony in the spring for her interment at the family plot in the Elmwood Cemetery in Schaghticoke, New York.

Hall Funeral Home and Tribute Center of Boothbay has care of the arrangements. To share memories, stores and photos on Flo's Book of Memories, visit www.hallfuneralhomes.com.