SPRINGVALE — Martha Kimball Chairsell, 88, of Springvale, formerly of Virginia and Florida, passed away Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at Huntington Commons in Kennebunk after a period of declining health.

She was born Oct. 26, 1927, in Waterford, the daughter of the late Benjamin Kimball and Lucy Allen. She graduated from Sanford High School in 1944.

Martha worked for most of her life in Washington, D.C., for the federal government. She worked for 10 years in the Pentagon, and also worked on the White House staff under the Carter administration and then for the CIA. She retired from federal service in 1981.

She later moved to Florida for many years before returning to Maine to live.

Martha loved to travel, and made many trips with family and friends in the United States and abroad. She also enjoyed researching the Kimball family genealogy, and spent many years working on it.

Martha was preceded in death by: her parents, Benjamin Kimball and Lucy Allen; her husband, Dr. Julius F. Chairsell Jr.; three brothers, James O’Brien, Francis Kimball and Robert Sanborn; and three sisters, Wilma E. (O’Brien) McAllister, Eva M. (O’Brien) Tripp and Barbara (KImball) Long.

She is survived by: one brother, Ronald O’Brien of Berryville, Virginia; and numerous nieces, nephews and close friends.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at South High Street Cemetery in Bridgton.


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