Verna "Vicki" Barwin

RICHMOND - Verna Vicki Barwin, age 84, passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2015 at the Sterling House in Richmond.

Vicki was born November 4, 1930 in Lafayette, Indiana, daughter of the late Gladys Marie Nevitt and Vernon Nevitt. After her parents divorce when she was four, her mother remarried Lloyd Field, who formally adopted her and whom she forever on called her father.

She grew up during the Great Depression, so her parents traveled across the country for a decade, following job opportunities. She spent the bulk of her teen years in Kalamazoo, Michigan, near where her Grandmother lived (Hattie Mae Mohr). During her senior year in high school, her parents moved to Orlando, Florida, and opened Vickis Bakeshop, where Vicki learned how to balance the books, decorate cakes, and entertain customers.
Vicki attended Rollins College in Florida for two years, with a major in bookkeeping.

Vicki met Richard Otto Barwin (Sam ), when she was a dance instructor at an Arthur Murray Dance Studio, and they were married in 1955, and had three children in quick succession; Katherine Barwin (Essex, VT), Richard Pete Barwin, Jr. (Westford, VT), and John Charlie Barwin, (Essex, VT). After ten years of living the life of an Air Force wife, Vicki and her family settled in northern Vermont, where Sam worked at UVM, Vicki lived her dream of owning a horse farm, and the children attended, and graduated from, the Enosburg Falls school system.

She was a stay-at-home mom, teaching Sunday school at the local Methodist church, until she was in her 40s. She then decided to go back to school, earning her Bachelors in Education from Johnson State College in 1981, and her Masters degree in Special Education in 1983. When her husband died, Vicki worked full-time as an educator in local schools, her last school being Essex Elementary School, where she was a special educator and Title I reading teacher for many years.

Vicki was passionate about equal rights for women, was an ardent supporter of the Democratic Party, and watched CSPAN continuously when she became homebound in her elder years. She also loved teaching children how to read. She is survived by her three children, and her eight grandchildren.

A graveside memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 16, at 1 pm, at the Enosburgh Center Cemetery, Boston Post Rd., Enosburgh with Rev. Jon Bly officiating.

For those who wish, donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Enosburgh Falls Public Library, P.O. Box 206, Enosburg Falls, VT 05450 to be used to purchase childrens picture books.