
Barbara was educated in the Topsham and Brunswick schools. She was Valedictorian for Brunswick High School class of 1944. At the age of 18 she became a clerical worker at Brunswick Naval Air Station. She graduated from Gordon College in Boston in 1949. Barbara was a secretary at Gordon College and Gordon Divinity School until 1952.
She married Rev. A. Theodore Ekholm on Aug. 12, 1949. She was a pastor’s wife, and served the Lord with her husband in four Baptist churches in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. Barbara loved to play the piano. She also loved to tell stories to make people laugh (especially stories about her family) right up to the end.
Heartfelt thanks to the great staff of Sedgewood Commons and Life Choices for their compassion and care for Barbara.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a son, David Theodore Ekholm; three brothers, William Nathaniel Field Jr., Gordon Elwyn Field, and James Edgar Field, and a sister, Phyllis Allana Gott.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Stephen Ernest Ekholm of Barrington, RI, Carole Lynn Ekholm of Woodstock Valley, CT, Gloria Jean Thomas of Buxton, ME, and Glenn Lewis Ekholm of South Portland, ME; sister, Priscilla Jeanne Grondin of Topsham, ME; grandchildren, Theodore, Christopher, Elizabeth, Daniel, Carl, Carissa, Matthew, Katherine, Aaron, Kirsten, Molly and Christina; and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, at Galilee Baptist Church, 317 Main St., Gorham. A period of informal visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. until the time of service. Burial will be held in the spring at Dow’s Corner Cemetery, Standish. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.dolbyfuneralchapels.com.
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