Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

VINALHAVEN - Rhoda Lila Boughton, 89, of Vinalhaven passed away on January 9, 2015 at the Sussman House in Rockport Maine. Born in Weehawken, New Jersey on August 6, 1925 she was the daughter of Florence and Moses Sultzer.
She attended the Art Students League in NYC and the John Heron Art Institute in Indiana where she met Stuart Scott Boughton, the love of her life. They were married on July 4, 1945. Stuart predeceased her on May 22, 1999.
At a young age Rhoda showed artistic talent and was often called on in school to showcase her art. An accomplished painter in oils, her works not only hang in many Vinalhaven homes, but also across the country. She took great pleasure in sharing her art as an Art Teacher with adults and especially with children. She taught for many years at the Art Center of Northern New Jersey and the Brooklyn Museum with lifelong friends Ashley Bryan and Emily Nelligan. Most recently she delighted in spending time with her dear friend Dr. Rich Entel and exploring new avenues of artistic expression. In addition, she found great joy in working on the Vinalhaven theater production sets many of which were quite innovative. She was never without her sketch pad.
Her connection to Vinalhaven dates from 1962 when she learned of this beautiful island through her artist friends Emily Nelligan and Marvin Bileck. In 1980 Rhoda and Stuart purchased a house on the island and in 1987 moved there year round to enjoy its exquisite beauty and close community.
Her entire life she was a dependable volunteer, both in New Jersey and Vinalhaven. She gave of her time and talent whenever it was needed. She was an active member of the Garden Club and a devoted member of the Friends of the Vinalhaven Public Library including the Library Centennial Fundraising Committee.
In her leisure time Rhoda was an avid reader, fan of movies, especially black and white and of Masterpiece Theatre. She was an enthusiastic gardener and loved cooking using her harvest. She took pleasure in entertaining and sharing the stories of her past.
A devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Rhoda is survived by two sons, David Boughton of Vinalhaven, ME and Matthew Boughton and his wife Danna of Athol, MA; one daughter, Thea Zinck and her husband, Chris of Augusta, ME; one brother, Barnet Sultzer and his wife Judy of NY; three grandsons, Marc Zinck and his wife Jean Marie Sloat, Gabriel Zinck and his wife Sarah, and Eric Boughton; two granddaughters, Aurora Zinck-Gelfand and her husband Ryan, and Emily Boughton; one great-grandson, Avram Zinck; nephew, Steven Sultzer and his wife Robin; niece Felicity Byrne and her daughters Corrie and Marissa whom Rhoda considered as daughter and granddaughters and by in-laws Bob Boughton and his wife Mary and Nancy Boughton and their children.
A Celebration of Rhoda’s Life will be held on Vinalhaven in the Spring.
Donations in Rhoda’s memory may be made to The Friends of the Vinalhaven Public Library, POB 223, Vinalhaven, ME 04863 or the Caring Committee of Adas Yoshuron Synagogue, POB 1250, Rockland ME 04841 or Temple Beth El, Augusta, POB 871, Augusta, ME 04332