Barbara Bailey Lord

Barbara Bailey Lord, 90, always known as “Bobbie”, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 29, with her family by her side. She was an extraordinary and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. ¬Bobbie was born on December 15, 1921, in Waterbury, Connecticut to the late Bertram Benezett Bailey and Lillian Woodbridge Bailey, and had one sister, Joan Byrnes who predeceased her. She attended St. Margaret’s School in Waterbury for grades K-12 and graduated from Connecticut College in 1943. She had a happy childhood and held great fondness and memories for both schools and for her classmates. Bobbie summered in Groton Long Point, Connecticut where she met her soul mate, Franklyn Thatcher Lord, Jr., “Bill”. In 1946, after Bill returned from Europe where he served during WWII, they were married in Waterbury and settled in Middletown, Connecticut. Bill attended college at Wesleyan University, graduating in 1948, while Bobbie worked at Connecticut College. Bobbie and Bill made their permanent home in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1951 where they raised four children, Deborah Lord Riley of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Melinda Lord Martin of Kensington, Connecticut, Thatcher Bailey Lord of St. John, USVI, and Sandra Monroe Lord of Burlington, Vermont. In 1975, Bobbie and Bill bought the Hingham Square Bookshop, which she managed for 12 years, employing several of her friends. She had great times reviewing manuscripts, meeting with booksellers, suggesting books to old and new friends and generally having fun. For the past 61 years, Bobbie and Bill have been members of the Hingham Yacht Club. They loved sailing with family and friends for many summers in Maine and Cape Cod. Bobbie was a devoted volunteer at the South Shore Hospital, accruing thousands of hours of service time. She also volunteered at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hingham for 20+ years. All who knew Bobbie will recall that she was a loving, kind and generous woman, showing grace, compassion, wisdom and humor throughout her life. She had a profound and deep love of her extended family, enjoying every accomplishment, every joy and feeling every sorrow. She especially loved the happy chaos of Christmas, Fourth of July, and family celebrations when all the generations gathered together in Hingham. Bobbie was considered a second mother to many of her own children’s friends. Many felt nurtured throughout their lives by her quiet, loving, non- judgmental spirit. For all of their 66 years of marriage, Bobbie and Bill’s love and devotion to one another was strong and inspirational to their family and friends. The home Bobbie made with her husband was always open and welcoming. Bobbie leaves behind a large and happy family, including her husband Bill, her four children and their spouses (Debbie and Bill, Lindy and Jamie, Thatcher and Vicki, and Sandy), as well as six grandsons: Christopher L. Riley, Timothy C. Riley, Jonathan L. Riley, Nathaniel L. Martin, Thatcher W. Martin, and Alexander B. Martin. She also leaves 5 wonderful great grandchildren. The family would like to extend our deep appreciation to Dr. Edward Nalband, Ms. Eileen Cleary RN, the loving staff at Sunrise Assisted Living of Cohasset and South Shore Hospice for their kindness and amazing support in caring for our mother and for our family during this difficult time. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 8th at 10:30 AM at the Old Ship Church in Hingham. Directions and parking information may be found by visiting www.oldshipchurch.org. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be sent to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 9 Erie Drive, Natick, MA. 01760 or online at: http://www.lls.org/#/waystohelp/donate/donateonline.