Barbara Baker (Bielefield) Smallshaw

Barbara Bielefield Smallshaw

April 7, 1933 – May 7, 2024

Barbara (Bielefield) Smallshaw of Middletown, Connecticut passed away peacefully on May 7, 2024, after a brief illness.

Barbara was one of three children (Arthur and Carolyn) born in Middletown to the late Herman and Frances Bielefield. She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Earl Smallshaw, and her daughter, Sharon Smallshaw Appelman.

Growing up in Middletown in her home on Clover Street, Barbara had a zest for life. Among her many interests, she especially enjoyed gardening, history, reading, caring for animals, and singing. One of her proudest moments was singing on stage at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford when she was in high school.

She attended Woodrow Wilson High School, graduating in 1951. Barbara met and married Middletown High graduate Earl Smallshaw in 1956 and they spent the first two years of their marriage near Munich, Germany where Earl was stationed in the U.S. Army, and where the first of their five children was born.

Over the years, Barbara was a devoted mother and homemaker, often filling the house with the sound of her singing. As a child of the Depression, she knew and appreciated the value of money and her budgeting acumen allowed she and Earl to raise five children and send them all to college on a single income. She also enjoyed many other activities including growing flowers in her garden, working part-time in a law office, serving in numerous leadership positions at her church, First Church of Christ Congregational in Middletown, volunteering with the soup kitchen, serving on the board of local cemeteries and most of all scouring tag sales, antique shops and auctions to find a bargain. An avid follower of current events and a keen observer of human nature, Barbara loved to debate, and her quick wit and sense of humor made her a lively conversationalist. In her later years, Barbara especially enjoyed the company of her beloved dogs Brandy and Sarah.

In addition to her sister Carolyn Bielefield Bauer, she is survived by her children: Susan Still and her husband Ross of West Kingston, RI, Sally Taiman and her husband Ed of Willington, CT, Steven Smallshaw and his wife Mari of Lynchburg, VA, and Scott Smallshaw of Clinton, CT, and son-in-law Wade Appelman of Santa Barbara, CA, along with fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she adored and loved dearly.

The family will be holding a private celebration of Barbara’s life later this year. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Middletown Humane Society in Barbara’s name.  To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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