Barbara M. (Fox) Greenlaw Obituary (1926 - 2018)

FAIRFIELD - Our loving mother, grandmother and matriarch of the Greenlaw family, passed on January 9, 2018. Barbara was born on July 25, 1926 to Hugh Allen and Lila Belle (Trimm) Fox Sr. in Blanchard, Maine. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Dr. William Greenlaw; her brothers Hugh Allen Fox Jr. of Newport, VT and Colby George Fox, MIA, Kunu-Ri, North Korea; her parents and her loving aunt, Clara Willard Fox. She is survived by her daughter Brenda, her son Jason and companion Toni, her son Hollis and his wife Angela and her grandchildren Claire, Abigail and Austin William. Barbara graduated Guilford High School in 1944. Following high school, she worked in the weave room at the American Woolen Company in Dover-Foxcroft. Barbara soon decided to seek employment at the Sisters of Charity Hospital in Waterville, where she began her nursing studies at the Seton Institute School of Nursing in Waterville. Her continued educational training took her to the Women’s & Children’s Hospital in Boston, and master’s graduate work in psychiatrics at the Seton Institute School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD. Following World War II, Barbara worked at military hospitals in Charleston, SC, Jacksonville, FL and Key West, FL. She returned to Maine and continued her career in nursing at the Sister’s Hospital in Waterville; there she met Dr. William Greenlaw and they later married in 1955. They shared 23 years together, raising their family. Barbara maintained her nursing license as a Registered Nurse until 2002. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Fireside Chapter #103 and volunteered her time as an educator for Waterville’s Adult Education. Barbara was very talented. She was artistic and could design, paint, or build almost anything. No project was too big or too small. She enjoyed her cars; she loved to travel and see the countryside from her car. She always remarked “this is fun”. She had a terrific sense of humor. She loved to tell stories and hold everyone’s attention; she loved to please a crowd. Barbara enjoyed talking with her “boys” from Scott Paper, Winslow and later with her crew at Kennebec River Development Park. She was always part of the crew. She was the “voice of reason”; her family loyalty and compassion were her priorities. Barbara will be remembered for her compassion. For all creatures, two legged, four legged or winged, she was always the caregiver. Her guidance and reasoning will be sorely missed by many. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barbara M Greenlaw Scholarship for Nursing, Lawrence High School, Fairfield, Maine