PHIPPSBURG — Carla M. Wallace, 70, of Phippsburg, died unexpectedly on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, at Maine Medical Center after a series of complications due to her declining health.

She was born in Damariscotta, Maine, on May 27, 1944, the eldest of two daughters born to Stanley Carew and Daisy Vivian (Nason) Elwell. She grew up in Woolwich on the George Wright Road, attended local schools, and graduated from Morse High School in 1962.

On July 23, 1988, she married the love of her life, Kendall W. Wallace Sr., and they made their home together in Phippsburg, Maine. She was employed at Congress Sportswear in Bath, Regional Memorial Hospital in Brunswick, and retired from Bath Iron Works after many years to care for her family. She was a member of the Phippsburg Sportsman’s Association and Small Point Baptist Church, where she served for nine years as secretary of the Dare to Care Program.

Carla’s fondest childhood memories were of growing up beside Nequassett Lake, warming herself in front of the big stone fireplace after a long winter’s day of skating and sliding, while aromas from the kitchen hinted of her mother’s homemade molasses cookies. She developed her love of plants and flowers at her father’s knee in the family’s greenhouse, and her fondness for “good conversation” while she and her sister sold vegetables from the gardens to neighbors and passersby, inquiring of their whereabouts as they traveled points further east.

Carla was an exceptional cook, and spent hours on end searching through cookbooks and magazines for new recipes to try. And when she showed up at your house with an envelope of tried and true, you knew she thought you were pretty special. To those who knew her, Carla was the person to call whenever you needed a hand. The first to come, the last to leave, whatever needed to be done. Her bird feeders were always full, and she delighted in the antics of the birds and squirrels as they competed for their morning meal.

She was happiest when spending time at camp in summer with her family and friends, looking for Lady Slippers, riding the back roads, watching the leaves change color and picking apples in the fall. She loved her family and friends, her dogs Snowy and Lexi, and she will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.

In addition to her parents, Carla is predeceased by her sister Lynn D. McNelly.

She is survived by her husband, Kendall Wallace Sr. of Phippsburg, her sons Robert Varney of Washington and Kendall Wallace Jr. of Brunswick, her daughters Joanne Rodney and husband Joseph Rodney of Bath, and Marie Reid and husband Michael Reid of West Bath, her niece Darlene Estabrook and husband Perry Estabrook of West Bath, several cousins, her 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Small Point Baptist Church on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m., with a Celebration of Life to be held immediately following. At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Small Point Baptist Church, 1754 Main Road, Phippsburg, ME.