Blanche Gambrill Stockbridge died quickly and peacefully at Emerson Hospital in Concord on January 11, 2023, with her family by her side. She was 88 years old and had lived in the Indian Village neighborhood of Acton since 1972.
Blanche was born in Frederick, MD, on July 8, 1934, to James Henry Gambrill III and Virginia Lane Gambrill. She was a 1952 graduate of Frederick High School and a 1956 graduate of Mary Baldwin College (now Mary Baldwin University) in Staunton, VA, where she majored in history. Following graduation, she worked at Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, VA, and then became a teacher, working first in Rockville, MD before she married and then in Dover, DE, after she married.
On October 8, 1960, Blanche married Edward Otis Stockbridge, whom she met while they were both singing in the choir at All Saints Episcopal Church in Frederick. During their marriage, they lived in Dover, DE; Locust Valley, NY; and Acton, MA. Blanche loved many things but chief among them were her family, her Episcopal faith, and her hometown of Frederick. Although she grew to love Acton, she always missed being close to her family in Frederick and never fully adapted to the colder climate or the chillier ocean temperatures New England had to offer. She was a faithful member of and tireless volunteer at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton where she served on the vestry and led the Altar Guild for many years, among other activities there.
In addition to Edward, her beloved husband of 62 years, Blanche is survived by her loving daughters Eleanor Stockbridge Fox and her son-in-law Christopher C. Fox of Quincy, MA; her daughter Caroline Stockbridge of Cohasset, MA; her grandsons, Alexander Maddox Norgeot and William Lane Norgeot of Cohasset, both of whom were a source of great pride and joy; her dear sister, Eleanor Gambrill Bowers, and her brother-in-law, G. Hunter Bowers Jr. of Frederick, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister, Virginia Gambrill Hendrickson and her brother-in-law, E. Mason Hendrickson Sr.
Services and burial will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton on Saturday, May 20th at
11:00AM.
Please see below for information and a link for live streaming of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 164 Newtown Rd, Acton, MA 01720.