Leone Elberta (Albee) Barrows

Photo:

Leone Elberta (Albee) Barrows

WEST PARIS — Leone Elberta (Albee) Barrows died Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at Ledgeview Living Center where she had been a patient for five months due to failing health.

She was born on December 23, 1913 in Battle Creek, MI to Archie E. and Myrtle Virginia (Hamilton) Albee. She graduated from Battle Creek Academy, attended Battle Creek College, Broadview College in Chicago, Andrews University in MI and graduated from Columbia Union College in Washington DC. She attained her R.N. Degree from there in 1938. She followed the alumni news and happily attended her 60th college reunion in 1998.

She met her life partner, H. Wayland Barrows, while he was a student at Columbia Union College. They were married on February 14, 1940. In September 1941 they returned to Wayland’s home in Aroostook with their three-week-old daughter, Joyce, to help Wayland’s parents with the war-time potato harvest. They remained in "the county" for 10 years where their son, Bruce, was born in 1943.

In 1952 the family moved to Oxford where they owned Lakeside Dairy Farm until 1957. Her husband's health brought a move to Riverside, CA. In the year before moving to CA Mrs. Barrows was called back into nursing when the new Stephens Memorial Hospital opened. She was the first day charge nurse. She continued her nursing career in CA until she retired with Wayland to their home on Hutchinson Pond in Albany Township in 1980.

There they had seven wonderful years until Mr. Barrows' untimely death in 1987. The next 24 years were spent with her daughter where she was able to be a special grandmother to her two grandchildren.

Mrs. Barrows was a special person with many talents. Her first love was music. She was an extremely gifted pianist and organist. She began college as a music major. She played for radio programs in Chicago to earn extra money. The Depression effectively ended her music career and she finished college with a nursing major.

She and her husband loved to travel; they made 10 trips to Alaska while their daughter lived there. They camped with their camper in many of the National Parks and Baja, CA and she even got up her courage to take some "flying" trips with Wayland in his private plane. She was always a welcoming hostess. If you came to her door she wanted to feed you. Her smile was magnetic.

She loved dogs, especially Cocker Spaniels. She raised AKC Cockers in Aroostook. The 300 puppies she raised went to all parts of the United States due to the wartime servicemen stationed there.

She was a lifelong member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. She had a deep abiding faith and sleeps awaiting the life giver at Christ’s second coming.

Mrs. Barrows is survived by her daughter, Joyce Bridgham of Oxford; her son, Bruce Barrows of Palm Bay, FL; her granddaughter, Allison (Jones) Clapp and husband Marc of Ft. Worth, TX and grandson, Craig Jones and wife Lynda of Lewiston. She is also survived by two nieces and their children. The many people who were fortunate to have had her in their lives will never forget her gentle, sweet disposition. She was predeceased by her parents; a sister, Dorothy Albee Chambers and her beloved husband, Wayland.

A memorial service to say good-bye to a great lady is planned for the spring with interment in the family plot in Hillside Cemetery, Paris. Arrangements under the care of Oxford Hills and Weston Funeral Services, 1037 Main St., Rte 26, Oxford. On-line condolence may be expressed to the family at www.oxfordhillsfuneralservices.com.