Obituary of Rev. Robert H. Barber

Rev. Robert H. Barber, husband of Ruth (Leach) Barber for 42 years, died Thursday at the NSMC at Salem Hospital. He was born in Natick, the son of the late Albert J. and Celia (Holbrook) Barber. He was a descendant of Thomas Holbrook, who came to Massachusetts in 1631 from Broadway Parish, Somersetshire, England and also from Captain George Barbour, who also came here from England in 1655. After growing up in Somerville, MA and attending public schools there, he graduated from Tufts College and Crane Theological School followed by graduate study at Union Theological Seminary in New York. He became ordained in the Medford Hillside Church in 1936. Rev. Barber’s Pastorates were in Springfield, MA., Scranton, PA, New Haven, CT, Lawrence, MA, Concord, MA and in Peabody MA. He was a member of the Maple Street Congregational Church in Danvers, the Peabody Clergy and Ministerial Association, the Winthrop Club and the Friends of the Peabody Library in Peabody and Danvers. Also the Peabody, Danvers and Sherborn Historical Societies. In Concord, he served as chaplain to the Migrant Workers from Puerto Rico. For 20 years, he and Mrs. Barber visited Haiti and worked with the Episcopal Sisters of St. Margaret and Faith and Concern. He had been the chaplain of the Rotary Club in both Concord and in Peabody. Through RSVP, his volunteerism involved Haven from Hungar. Rev. Barber enjoyed traveling, reading, walking, gardening and all sports, particularly playing baseball and as a spectator and was an avid Red Sox Fan. Besides his wife, he is survived by several nieces and nephews including Alice Barber of Melrose, 3 godchildren, 4 great godchildren and a special needs foster child of Haiti. He was the brother of the late George Barber,Eleanor Barber, Paul Barber and recently Richard L. Barber. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 2:00 until 4:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. A Graveside Service will be held on Monday at 11:00 AM at the family lot in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday November 4, 2007 at 2:00 PM at the Maple Street Congregational Church in Danvers with Rev. Charles Gross officiating. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the charity of one’s choice in his memory.