Barbara (Woodbury) Gibbons

On April 18, 2024, Barbara Woodbury Gibbons, wife of Richard Tuttle Gibbons (Dick) succumbed after her five-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease in the presence of her family at her home in Middle Haddam.  

Barbara was born in Salem, New Hampshire on August 8, 1931, and was the daughter of the late Captain Levi Woodbury and Marion Henderson Woodbury. 

Barbara spent her early years in Salem. When World War II broke out, Levi became part of the U.S. Marine Corps force on Guadalcanal where he received a battlefield promotion and commendation for bravery.  

 On his return to the United States, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton, CA. 

Woodbury’s bought a house in Oceanside, CA to be nearby. Barbara completed her freshman year there; however Levi was transferred to Boise, Idaho where Barbara became a sophomore and then a transfer to San Francisco for her junior year, followed by a transfer back to Oceanside for her senior year. How to learn to be flexible and make new friends!  

Upon graduation from high school, Barbara enrolled in Oceanside Junior College and completed a 2-year college course. 

Many years later, in January 1969, Barbara and Dick met at a dinner party in Essex Connecticut. Following a quick courtship, Barbara and Dick were married in August 1969. Each brought a son from a previous marriage. Barbara had a 15-year-old son, Frederick Baskerville Van Brunt and Dick had a five-year-old son, Richard Foster Gibbons.  

Although separated by 10 years, each son graduated from the Independent Day School, Choate Rosemary Hall, and Wesleyan University. Each promptly moved to California where Fred started a career in Hollywood and Rich began a career with a newly formed Speakers Bureau. 

Unfortunately, Fred developed a brain tumor at the age of 34. The tumor was excised but left him partly disabled for the rest of his life. Fred died at the age of 64 from a heart attack in 2019. 

At the age of 29, Rich married Heather Moss. They have 3 children ranging in age from 22 to 17, all living in California. 

Barbara and Dick took up residence in Middle Haddam. Barbara joined the Middle Haddam Garden Club and became Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Middle Haddam Public Library. She later became a Member and Past President of the Literary Club. She was a good cook and enjoyed giving dinner parties to friends. She loved to play tennis and to travel. She and Dick visited 7 continents of the world. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Gibbons home, 115 Middle Haddam Road, Middle Haddam, CT 06456 on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 2:00 pm.  A private burial will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Barbara’s name may be made to the Middlesex County Historical Society, 151 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457.  To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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