Barbara McDowell Dutton passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 25, 2026, at the age of 98½. She led a full, happy, and long life.
Barbara was born on Jan. 16, 1928, to Allan and Ruth McDowell of Kent, Conn. Allan was a teacher at the Kent School. Barbara was the youngest of three sisters, and enjoyed the small town world, playing sports and enjoying horses and 4-H activities. She attended the Northfield School, followed by college at Endicott.
Soon after her studies, she met and fell in love with David Garland Dutton from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and Cornwall, Conn. They married in Kent on July 1, 1950.
David started working for the AC Dutton Lumber Corp., his family’s wholesale business in Poughkeepsie. For a while, the young couple lived in Idaho as David learned the forestry business. Barbara met and made some long-term friendships, a theme throughout her life. Back East they lived in the 1950s in Danielson, Conn., where David was based selling lumber, and where three sons were born, David, Allan, and John. Barbara had her hands full!
By 1959 the young family transferred over to Poughkeepsie, and another son, Robert, was born. Along with raising the four boys, Barbara found time to manage the Junior League thrift store, befriend a blind and mentally challenged woman, raise money for the MidHudson Regional Hospital, and assist at the Children’s Home.
In 1976, the family moved year-round to the Vineyard, to their house in Harthaven. Dave started Dutton’s Home Center, now Vineyard Home Center, and Barbara really opened up.She did elder care for many women, including Katherine Cornell, drove senior citizens around, and helped serve lunches at the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging. Very happily she got involved with riding her Arabian horse Muffy at Tashmoo Pond Farm. This included trail riding and some seat-of-the-pants cart riding! She encouraged her young friend, Gigi Chagnon, to ride and show Muffy in competition. Never too old for animals, she found herself later volunteering at the Island Alpaca Farm.
Tennis, paddle tennis, singing in choirs, and having a responsible good time with all sorts of people were some of her other joys.
Barbara was fortunate to go traveling in the 1980s to Europe, Africa, and Australia with her friends, Nan Rheault and Joyce Goldfield. On one trip she caught up with German friends, the Kuerschners, and invited them to come visit the Vineyard. They did, and ended up owning a home in Sengekontacket for 20 years! Barbara also made friends with and welcomed a Mongolian student, Handaa Rea, to stay for several summers.
As she aged gracefully, Barbara spent more time visiting her best friend Phrons Conlin, also in Harthaven.
After her husband Dave died, her senior years were spent largely at home, under the constant care of her sons and family. Her last year was at the Henrietta Brewer House, where she cheered up the staff as much as they cheered her.
Barbara was also known to her family as Baba. Her descendants include sons David with wife Renee, Allan with wife Bianca, John, and Bob (deceased) with wife Molly. Grandchildren are Stanley, Allan Jr., Chloe, Amelia, and Simon. A great-granddaughter, Haven, was born two months ago. Her half-brother is Lanny McDowell, Island ornithologist and artist.
Family and many friends all will remember her spirit of generosity and caring, sweetness and humor.
A celebration of her life will be private.
