TOPSHAM — Barbara Purinton Hutchinson, 88, passed away at The Highlands, Topsham on Friday, Sept. 29.
She was born Oct. 21, 1928, in Brunswick, the fifth child of Edith Hamlin Purinton and Ernest Augustus Purinton. Barbara attended Brunswick schools, including the Pleasant Street School and Hawthorne Elementary. She was a majorette with the school band, participated in archery, basketball, bowling, softball and volleyball. She was a member of the girls Hi-Y and Girls Athletic Association.
Immediately following her graduation from Brunswick High School, she began working for the Brunswick Record, now the Times Record. She oversaw the classified ads, the paperboy’s accounts and later became a proofreader and secretary to the publisher. She worked at the paper for over 44 years.
Barbara also served as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for five years. She was a member of the Times Record Santa Claus Fund of which she served as treasurer for many years.
She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, having joined in 1944 and served the church as Sunday school teacher and treasurer for 34 years.
She married Harold Hutchinson on April 8, 1967. They celebrated their 50th anniversary on April 8, 2017! The couple traveled to all 50 of the United States, many Canadian provinces, and 15 countries. They were regular attendees at the Boston Red Sox spring training for 38 years.
Barbara enjoyed spending time at home with her husband, caring for their vegetable and flower garden, and canning their crops in hundreds of jars yearly each summer, much of which were donated to the United Methodist Church’s yearly Christmas Fair.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Harriet Crooker and Virginia Purinton; two brothers, Harold and Stanley Purinton.
Her husband, Harold Hutchinson, died early Sunday morning, 25½ hours later, Oct. 1, at the couple’s residence at The Highlands.
She is survived by her two daughters, Susan Lamb and her partner, Steve Collemer of Dresden, Judith Andrews and her husband, Dick of Brunswick; two stepdaughters, Nancy Caton and her husband, David of Wells, Rebecca Hudnor and her husband, Frank of Brunswick; a stepson, Jeffrey Hutchinson and his wife, Diane of Brunswick; five grandchildren, Peter Christopher, Sarah Christopher, Christopher Hudnor, Justin Hudnor, and Erin Sylvester; two great-grandchildren, Nathan MacDonald and Sadie Christopher.
The family wishes to thank the attentive and caring staff from Friendship Cove at The Highlands, CHANS Hospice, as well as all of the personal physicians and staffs.
Memories and condolences can be shared at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.
Barbara P. Hutchinson
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