BATH — A Bath woman known for volunteering in her community continued her lifelong service after she died late in 2010, leaving $35,000 to three local organizations to which she’d already dedicated hundreds of hours.

Beverly Wilson, a longtime employee at Bath Savings Bank, died in December 2010, leaving no children.

In her will, she left $15,000 to the Bath Lodge of Elks and $10,000 each to Mid Coast Hospital and Coastal Humane Society, according to Bath attorney John Voorhees.

Wilson had lived in Bath since 1956, when she married her husband, Bob “Whip” Wilson, according to her obituary.

She worked for many years at Bath Savings Bank, retiring in 1996 as the bank’s first female vice president.

During her career, Wilson established the “Sneakers” program, which encourages savings accounts for children.

Wilson spent more than 1,500 hours volunteering at the reception desk at Mid Coast Hospital, where she also served as president and vice president of the hospital’s auxiliary, according to Michael Todd, director of development for Mid Coast Health Services.

Her first volunteering stint was in the coffee shop at Bath Memorial Hospital.

At Mid Coast, Todd said, “She was really the first smiling face when people stepped into the hospital.”

Todd said Wilson’s donation was unrestricted, so the hospital can determine how to best use it to benefit patient care.

“We’re grateful to the estate that what was in her heart to do for the hospital was fully realized,” he said. “A hospital like this touches a lot of lives, and people who become associated with us, like Beverly, give during their lifetime and then decide they want to give beyond. She had a wonderful service to the hospital.”

Wilson also left $10,000 to Coastal Humane Society, and $ 15,000 to the Bath Elks Lodge, to be used specifically to purchase a commercial dishwasher and refurbish the lounge area, Voorhees said.

It was at the Elks that Wilson met John Gumz, who after her husband’s death became her companion, according to her obituary.

David Merrill, secretary and past exalted ruler of the Bath Elks, said Wednesday that Wilson loved dancing. She served on many Elks committees, including the entertainment, kitchen and investigating committees. She also worked with the Santa Claus Fund and served on the Bath Elks Lodge’s board of directors.

“She enjoyed life and she enjoyed having fun,” Merrill said. “And she enjoyed helping out on committees.”

“I think this is a great example of someone who really cared about her community and gave not only of her (financial resources), but of her gifts and talents,” Todd said.

The bequeath, Voorhees said, is proof that “the average Joes — which most of us are — can make a difference. This will make a difference for them.”

bbrogan@timesrecord.com