Barbara Bell Sturtevant died on May 1, 2017 at The Highlands in Topsham, ME where she had been a resident for the past two years. Barbara was born on June 1, 1923 in Boothbay Harbor, ME to Lura Barter Bell and James Vance Bell. Growing up in Boothbay Harbor, she loved riding her bicycle all over town. She was salutatorian of her high school class and went on to graduate from the Katherine Gibbs School in Boston.

She married Arthur E. Sturtevant in March of 1943. They enjoyed the movie Casablanca on their honeymoon and Art was then sent to Casablanca to fight in the World War II campaign in North Africa and Italy. Later they raised three daughters in Bath, ME; she also traveled with her husband to Seattle, New Orleans, Boston, Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Long Beach, CA. She loved New York City and was a contestant on The Price is Right in its first year of broadcast in 1954. Later she and Art traveled to New Mexico, Ireland, Bermuda, England and Scotland.

She was a founding member of Club 42, a member of the Junior League of Bath and one of the Women’s Champions at the Bath Golf Club, as well as program chair of the Maine Women’s Golf League. She visited St. Andrew’s, golfed until she was 85 and was an avid bowler in the Senior League at Yankee Lanes until her 92nd year. She was a devoted mother who volunteered at the Bath Hospital coffee shop, the Girl Scouts, UNICEF, Pine Tree Society, Easter Seals and whatever else her daughters participated in. She later became an Audio-Visual Specialist for the Brunswick Public School system.

Barbara was very proud of her Scottish heritage. As a member of Clan Bell, she traveled to Highland Games throughout New England and the Maritime provinces. She was an ancestor of Alexander Graham Bell and was also related to the McPherson clan on her father’s side. She had been a devout communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Bath since 1943.

She loved reading, ocean views, sports and flowers of all kinds—her “calling card” was to drop a rose on front steps to say she had stopped by. She never met a vegetable that she liked, but was never known to turn down a piece of dark chocolate. Her sense of humor saw her through many of life’s events. She led a full and fruitful life that stopped just short of her 94th birthday.

Barbara was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, her parents and her sister, Adda Rice and brother James Vance Bell, Jr. She was much loved and will be missed by her daughters Sue Sturtevant of Portland, ME, Joanne Anable and husband Al of Holderness, NH and Peggy O’Connor and husband Declan of Belfast, ME. She has four grandchildren, Kate Anable, Brooke Hammond (Zach), Maeve O’Connor and Ned O’Connor (Melissa) and two great-granddaughters, Aislinn Rose Bernier and Nola Grace O’Connor. She also leaves ten nieces and nephews.

There will be a private graveside service officiated by Father Dominic Azagbor, O.P., of All Saints Parish, St. Mary’s Church followed by a family celebration of her life.

To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.