George S Barbour

BRUNSWICK - George Stimson Barbour and Hazel Ella Jackson Barbour passed away just over six months apart, after more than 73 years of marriage. Hazel died on Dec. 4, 2016, and George on June 20, 2017. At the time of their deaths they were residents of Brunswick, but their hearts were forever in Yarmouth.

George was born in Yarmouth on August 14, 1921, the son of Myron Lovell Barbour and Mary Strout Barbour. Hazel was born in Portland on August 27, 1923, the daughter of George P. Jackson and Mabel Anderson Jackson. George and Hazel were married in Portland on August 28, 1943.

George survived his parents, three brothers (Richard, Everett, and Lewis Barbour), and one sister (Phyllis Winchenbach). Hazel survived her parents, three brothers (George, Charles, and Edward Jackson), and two sisters (Elizabeth Horn and Lottie Tornquist). In May of 2016 they lost their beloved youngest child, Patricia Barbour Plummer.

They are survived by their daughter and son-in-law, Paula Barbour-Brennan and John Brennan of Tallahassee and Yarmouth, their son Donald G. Barbour of Alfred; their granddaughter Kathryn Plummer of Oak Park, Mich.; and their son-in-law Lewis Plummer of Falmouth. Also surviving are Hazel's sister Theodora Leighton of South Portland, their sister-in-law Priscilla Jackson of Tampa, their brother-in-law Richard Winchenbach of Freeport; and many nieces and nephews. George and Hazel had a talent for making and keeping friends from the beginning of their marriage to their final years, and they leave behind loving friends from across Maine and the rest of the country. Hazel's talent for correspondence even extended to her son-in-law's friends and family in England.

George graduated from North Yarmouth Academy and Hazel from Deering High School. As members of the Greatest Generation, George and Hazel both joined the war effort during World War II. Hazel worked as a secretary in the South Portland Shipyard, and later at the Pueblo (CO.) Air Base. George served with the Flying Tigers in China, and was a life member of the Fourteenth Air Force Association and the China, Burma, India Veterans Association. He received two Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals for flying seventy-seven combat missions as a flight engineer and top turret gunner. During the Korean War, he served in the U. S. Air Force training flight engineers.

By the time George separated from the Air Force, he and Hazel were living in Yarmouth and starting their family. Hazel was an important part of the idyllic life of Yarmouth in the 50's and 60's, when every mom was every other child's mom. She supported her children's activities at school, Sunday school at First Parish Congregational Church (where George and Hazel were lifelong members), scouting, and anything else that could make a childhood happy. She was a member of the Twice Fifteen Club, helped the Lions Club with their shows, and volunteered for the group that became the United Way. She was a great cook and supreme baker, famous for her birthday cakes.

George was a captain in the Yarmouth Volunteer Fire Department, King Lion in the Yarmouth Lions Club, a member of Anderson-Mayberry post of the American Legion, and trustee for Riverside Cemetery. He was elected to the first Town Council Yarmouth ever had. Much of George's service to Yarmouth was combined with his employment. For 27 years he owned and operated the general store M. L. Barbour & Son, the predecessor of Goff's Hardware. He was a Cumberland County deputy sheriff for ten years, and for 50 years he worked part time for Lindquist Funeral Home, from driving an ambulance to assisting at funerals.

George was also a member of several Masonic organizations, some for 70 years. These included Casco Lodge in Yarmouth, Arundel Lodge in Kennebunkport, the Shriners of Kora Temple, and the Scottish Rite.

Hazel worked as a legal secretary before the children came, and when they got older, she went back to work at Guy Gannet Publishing Co. (Portland newspapers) as a confidential secretary to the top executives. During her 19 years working for many people with many differing opinions, she earned the nickname "Saint Hazel." After he sold the store, George also worked at the newspaper, mostly in circulation, for ten years.

After retirement George and Hazel spent 17 happy winters in Lake Wales, Fla.., making new friends, hosting parties, and generally staying active in their senior community. They served as excellent examples to their children and granddaughter that hard work and community service must be mixed with active leisure time spent with family and friends. This balance stretched from the lakeside camps of the early years to the sailboat years, followed by the RV years, followed by the Florida years. George's outgoing personality and Hazel's warm personality and cooking skills led to the best of times for them, their friends, and their family.

In their 90's George and Hazel found another living situation where they could be active and social while not worrying about the responsibilities they were ready to shed. The family will be forever grateful to the staff and residents of Coastal Landing in Brunswick, especially Sue, John, Marie, Edna, Barb, and former employee Debbie.

There will be a celebration of life for George and Hazel on July 6 at 1:30 p.m. in the Coastal Landing chapel in Brunswick.

Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Yarmouth at a later date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Lindquist Funeral Home in Yarmouth.