Barbara Clarke Tolman

1924-2025

WINDHAM—Barbara Clarke Tolman, 100, passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, after not having the strength to recover from a broken rib.  After 5 weeks of struggle she passed peacefully at home with her daughter by her side.

Barbara Clarke Tolman was born on May 10, 1924, to her parents Herbert Clarke and Maria Tizzard Clarke in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  As the child of immigrant parents from Newfoundland, she was always proud to be the first-born generation of her family in the United States.  She attended high school and graduated with honors in Watertown, MA, June 1942.  Due to wartime she left school in April 1942, one of two female physics students to work for the Van Keuren Company, a small local defense company that made precision measuring tools, where compensation was fifty cents an hour.  As the war ended so did her job.  She went to work for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Boston, MA, in January 1945 where she was employed until her marriage to Charles Wilbert Tolman in September 1947.

She became a homemaker in Belmont, MA where she and "Bill" raised two children.  To supplement the family income they ran and taught square dances, Bill calling and Barb handling music.  The couple moved to Nashua, NH in 1956.  Barbara was an active volunteer as a Boy Scout Den Mother, Girl Scout Troop Leader for Brownies through Seniors, GS Neighborhood Chairman, YWCA Board of Directors member and becoming its president and served as the chair of the new YW/YM building committee in the 1960's.  She received her first blue ribbon in a Standard Flower Show as a member of the Nashua Garden Club.  To enhance family resources she was an Avon Lady.  Crafts she enjoyed at the time were sewing and bargello.  Cooperative Extension provided new things to explore and new friends.

In 1971 the Tolmans relocated to Scarborough, Maine.  Connections were made with Girl Scouts, Scarborough Historical Society, Scarborough Garden Club and Portland's Longfellow Garden Club where she was a member for more than 50 years.  B&B Press, the homegrown printing company of the family, produced handmade Christmas cards and the monthly Olde Millbrook Riffles newsletter.  At 65 Barb became a Master Gardener.  She traveled to 33 Elderhostels with Bill, their first one in 1986.  Together they explored ME, VT, MA, PA, NH, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland.  They also embarked on two cross-country trips, one with the family in 1967 by car, towing a pop-up trailer and then just the two of them by bus in 1982.  With in-laws Winnie and Harvey, they took a train trip to Florida and drove to Key West.

Barbara was a life member of Girl Scouts of the USA, Scarborough Historical Society, Windham Historical Society, Garden Club Federation of Maine, and National Garden Clubs.  She enjoyed camping when the family was young and family travels.  Watercolor painting, reading for entertainment and knowledge (particularly the book group at Scarborough Public Library), needle arts, creating things, wildflower study, and winning two blue ribbons in Standard Flower Shows filled her life.  She was very proud of her three granddaughters and following their lives as they grew and became adults.  She had one great-grandson.

In the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic she moved from Scarborough, Maine to Windham, Maine to be closer to her daughter.  Apartment living suited her needs much better than continuing to maintain a home on her own.  It was a very special time for both of them.

She was predeceased by her husband in December 2017 after they celebrated their 70th year anniversary in September.  Her son Gerald C. Tolman passed in October 2022.  She is survived by daughter Laurel T. Parker of Windham, granddaughter Jennie E. Young, Windham, great-grandson Tyler A. Clark, Lewiston, daughter-in-law Barbara A. Tolman of Norwich, VT, granddaughters Libby A. Tolman of NY, and Jennifer L. Tolman of Norwich, VT.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 2:00pm at Windham Hill United Church of Christ, 140 Windham Center Rd., Windham, ME 04062.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, 279 River Rd., Windham, ME   04062 or Northern Light Home Care and Hospice, 225 Gorham Rd. Suite 200, South Portland, ME 04106