Barbara Sloat Rowe
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Barbara Sloat Rowe, of Middlefield, CT, passed away January 12, 2022, at Wadsworth Glen
Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, in Middletown. Born October 22, 1934 in East Hodgdon,
Maine, Barbara moved to Connecticut after graduating from Ricker Classical Institute High
School in 1952. Barbara had lived in Middlefield since 1958, raising three children with her
husband, David, while taking an active role in many aspects of the town's cultural and political
life.
She was a longtime member of the Middlefield Federated Church, as well as a member and
board member of the Levi E. Coe Library. Beginning in 1982, Barbara also served more than 25
years as Registrar of Voters for the Town of Middlefield, often working long hours alongside
elected officials and municipal colleagues to ensure orderly and transparent elections and
referenda.
An avid reader, Barbara worked part-time for several years at the Levi E. Coe Library, then
worked several more years as librarian's assistant at the then-elementary Middlefield Center
School. She and David were enthusiastic square dancers, dancing for over 20 years with a local
square dance club and also taking several square dance club trips throughout the northeast. The
couple also took numerous trips around the United States following David's retirement. Finally,
following David's death from colon cancer in 2002, Barbara was an active member of a Colon
Cancer Survivor's group.
Barbara enjoyed traveling by car with family and friends throughout her life and took a keen
interest in meeting people, making friends of all ages. She avidly watched UConn Women's
Basketball, loved chocolate, and was possessed of a sharp mind, dry wit, and warm heart.
Predeceased by her husband David M. Rowe, brother H. Douglas Sloat, and sister Lee Quinion,
Barbara is survived by her three children, David Michael Rowe of Middlefield, CT, Jeffrey C.
Rowe of Bowdoinham, ME, and Kimberly B. Rowe of Boston, MA. She is also survived by four
grandchildren, Samuel, George, Abigail, and Nell, one great-granddaughter, Anna, and many
nieces and nephews.
A funeral and burial service will be held for Barbara in the spring. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.