Barbara Ellen Frizzell Gates, age 92, passed away in her sleep, in the pre-dawn hours of April 17, 2020, from complications related to COVID 19. Barbara was born on February 16, 1928, in Taftsville, Vt. to Arthur William Frizzell and Eva Nancy Blood-Frizzell. The family later moved to Hartland, Vt. where she grew up on the family farm with her five siblings, Philip Arthur, Edwin Tyler, Marshall Ray, Ruth Bertha, and Milton Blood. Barb attended school in Woodstock, Vt. and at The University of Vermont, in Burlington.

She was happily married to Thomas Edward Gates for 73 years, and proud mother to James Arthur Gates, Pamela Ann Gates Capozzola, Kathryn Ellen Gates-Ferris, and Donna Louise Gates.

As a WWII veteran, the GI bill enabled Thomas to attend UVM, where he met Barbara, his sister’s good friend. Barb and Tom, with Pam and Jim in tow, left Hartland Hill, for Bridgeport, as Tom’s career as an electrical engineer began to flourish. As an electrical engineer for GE, he was transferred quite a bit. While in Bridgeport, they were graced with Kathy’s birth, moving on to Providence, R.I., where the arrival of their fourth child, Donna, graced their lives. From Rhode Island, Tom was transferred to the GE plant in Syracuse, N.Y., where they all lived in Baldwinsville, for 17 years. Barb and Tom resided in Newtown for the past 45 years.

A very talented and creative seamstress, homemaker, and mother, Barb knew what was important in life and was a friend to everyone she met. She loved, cherished, nourished, protected, taught, and cared deeply about her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends, and community. She did it with sharp wit and a Vermont sense of humor.

Barbara was selected by Syracuse University to participate in a preschool experimental program as an assistant. She was a Scout leader and an advocate for her children’s education. As an active member of the Newtown Methodist Church and Church Women United, she helped to establish the Faith Food Pantry of Newtown in the ’80s and remained a volunteer up until her life’s end.

In addition to her devoted husband, she is survived by her sister Ruth with Layton Meriam; all four children, along with son-in-law, Dr Robert Kellogg Ferris; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Donations in Barb’s memory can be made to The Faith Food Pantry of Newtown, PO Box 53, Newtown CT 06470.