Sue was born on August 17, 1935 in Providence, Rhode Island, to Gordon E. and Gwendolyn Williams Wallace, who later provided Sue with four sisters and a brother, all of whom loved her dearly. The family moved south when Sue was 14 and with her intelligence and charm she immediately made deep friendships that have endured a lifetime. She became the first female student body president of Hendersonville (NC) High School and graduated second in her class.
Sue started her college education at the Women’s College of U.N.C., but transferred to Auburn University, graduating in 1957. She had a summer job in Maine before taking up teaching, first in Boston, then Hawaii and Germany. While in Germany, she met and married an Army officer, Terry D. Cordell. Their child, Judith, was nine months old when Capt. Cordell, then a Green Beret, was killed in October 1962.
Sue returned to live with her family, who had moved to Anniston, Alabama, which gave her the opportunity to establish a close connection to her younger siblings. She earned a Master’s degree in Education and made frequent visits to friends in Hawaii. While visiting her brother who was assigned to the Naval Air Station, Brunswick, she met a local attorney, Orville “Tex” Ranger, whom she soon married. Sue became a step-mother to Tex’s children, John and Robin, and she and Tex brought two more girls, Andrea and Laura, into the blended family.
The old Harding home that Tex had acquired before their marriage became a life-long restoration project to Sue, who also immersed herself in the activities of her children and the life of the broader community. She was the first female deacon at First Parish Church in Brunswick, a leader in the Girl Scouts, and a school volunteer. She joined the Parkview Hospital Auxiliary, the American Association of University Women, a book group, the garden club, and many other organizations. She served on the board of the community action agency and was elected to the Curtis Memorial Library board. Her extensive community service and volunteer work eventually brought recognition from the Chamber of Commerce as Brunswick’s Citizen of the Year in 2002.
Sue had a few parttime jobs over the years, but much of the time that wasn’t devoted to home and family was taken up managing and maintaining the rental properties she and Tex acquired. She was an active, caring property owner to many tenants who needed extra support to enable independent living.
Sue and Tex were able to enjoy years of travel adventures with friends that included bicycle trips in Europe and visits to numerous foreign locales — Italy, Norway, Greece, Turkey, New Zealand, Japan, and Australia to name a few.
In addition to a legion of friends, Sue is survived by her husband of 45 years, their children, John Ranger and his wife Kim of Brunswick; Judith Ranger Smith, of Mount Pleasant, SC; Robin Hagen and her husband Mark of San Diego, CA; Andrea Ranger of Somerville, MA; and Laura Ranger of Lakewood, CO, a nurse who recently moved home to provide critical care for her mother. Sue is also survived by her siblings, Sandra Martin of Asheville, NC; John Wallace and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Meadow, of Bow, NH; Stephanie Renuart of Dadeville, AL; Sherry Wallace of Decatur, GA; and Sally McClelland and her husband Charles, of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. She was predeceased by a granddaughter, Samantha Maphet. Also surviving are grandchildren Sean and Scott Hagen, Morgan Kravitz, Savannah Mendelson, and Denver Smith as well as great-grandchildren Dahlia Capen and Lela Masters.
A celebration of the life of Sue Ranger will be held at 3 PM on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at First Parish Church, 9 Cleaveland Street, Brunswick. A reception will follow at the nearby Inn at Brunswick Station.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations in Sue’s honor be made to the Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME 04011 or to First Parish Church, 9 Cleaveland Street, Brunswick, ME 04011.
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