Ramona B. Flewelling

Ramona B. Flewelling

Concord, NH

Mrs. Ramona B. Flewelling died March 2, 2011 at Havenwood Retirement Community. She was born Feb. 12, 1909 in Syracuse, NY, the daughter of J. Joel and Edna North Bentley. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother J. Gordon Bentley and his wife Marilyn B. Bentley, her husband Kenneth H. Flewelling, and her son the Rev. F. Lauren Flewelling. She is survived by two sons, J. David (Gail) and Bruce K.(Sue) Flewelling. She is survived by six grand children: Kenneth (Colleen) and Ian (Christine) Flewelling, Heather (Leah) and Andrew (Rebecca) Flewelling and Samantha (Guy) Huntley and Joel (Gwen) Flewelling. She has ten great- grandchildren.

She attended schools in her home town of Syracuse and was a 1930 graduate of Syracuse University.

She taught English and oral communication at Cobleskill Central School, Cobleskill, NY from 1930 to 1934 and was a hostess at Howe Caverns during the summer seasons.

She was married on August 23, 1934 and moved to California where her husband was employed as a Park Naturalist at Kings Canyon, Bryce, Zion and Sequoia National Parks, Pinnacles National Monument, and Dana Point State Park.

In December 1941, she moved with her husband and two older sons to Syracuse and then to Baldwinsville, NY. There she was active in activities at Grace Episcopal Church. In 1947, the Flewellings purchased land in Grantham, NH where they started a small recreation area, Sherwood Forest, on the shores of Miller Pond.

During the years from 1950 to 1954 she worked at various positions in the Upper Valley. From 1955 to 1971 she taught English and Driver Education at Lebanon High School, Lebanon NH.

From 1971 to 1990, she and her husband traveled extensively during the winter and spent summers at Sherwood Forest. The Flewellings decided that they wanted their property to be kept for future use in an environmentally friendly way. In the late 1980's they sold the development rights to the Town of Grantham and the State of New Hampshire for use as a Land Trust. The 850 acres of woodland may be used for timber and agricultural uses, and the old roads, trails and camp grounds may be used for recreational purposes, however no subdivision is allowed.

In 1994, Mrs. Flewelling moved to Concord’s Havenwood-Heritage Heights senior retirement community where she has lived since. She has been an active member of the community and has written extensively about her life experiences. The stories reveal her love of adventure and of the out of doors, coupled with devotion to her husband and family. She had a large group of friends with whom she corresponded.

A memorial service will be held at Havenwood on March 11th at 1:30pm. Her remains will be spread with those of her husband in Sherwood Forest at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Kenneth and Ramona Flewelling Scholarship Fund at Lebanon High School, Lebanon, NH, The Grantham Conservation Committee, or the NH Audubon Society.