Barbara Winch

Barbara Lenox (Stevens) Winch left this world on March 10, 2022, the same way she came in to it - full of spitfire, independence and unpredictability. Barbara Lenox Stevens was born on February 26, 1926 in Pensacola, Florida. She surprised her parents, Olivia Edna Owen Stevens and Lenox Charles Stevens by arriving three months early. She was such a surprise that her father delivered her! Her parents went on to give her two brothers, Lenox, Jr. and Owen. She went to schools in Virginia, New York and New Hampshire, graduating from Portsmouth High School and the University of New Hampshire. In 1949 she married William Richard Stevens. They had five children and chose Shelburne, Vermont to raise their family. In addition to attending to her family Barbara dedicated herself to many community volunteer organizations. She devoted herself to The League of Women Voters, The Pierson Library, The Girl Scouts and the American Cancer Society and Charlotte Pony Club. She was on the Altar Guild at Trinity Church in Shelburne for years. Barbara was an integral part of the Shelburne PTA, shining in roles both on stage and back stage for the much loved fundraiser, "Korny Kapers." In addition, she oversaw a lively menagerie of family pets - cats, dogs, horses, hamsters and even those who strayed in for shelter from the wild such as "Cyrano" the crow. She loved wildlife and she and her friends would call one another when someone spotted the first red cardinal of the winter or robin in the spring. An especially important day would be when they were honored by the appearance of the occasional pair of bald eagles in full regalia. Barb worked for thirteen years at the University of Vermont and became a dedicated fan of UVM hockey - GO CATS GO. In 1985 she married Guy Winch, moving to his hometown of South Hero. Never one to sit still, in retirement she directed her energies to the South Hero Bicentennial Museum, C.I.D.E.R, and Island Arts. An avid gardener, she had a beautiful flower garden and tended to flowers at the Town Hall, Congregational Church and other places around the town. She loved the Champlain Islands making dear friends who warmed her many years there. Barbara is predeceased by her husband Guy and her brothers Owen and Lenox. She leaves her five children, Shelley Abovitz (Tsvi), Sara Norris (Kevin), Susan Emmons Poss, Rick Stevens (Berit), and Scott Stevens, two step-children Kathleen Winch and Kevin Winch (Bonnie). Barbara is also known as "Nana" and leaves her grandchildren, Rachel, Ethan, Ariel, Talia, Alex, Schuyler, Will, Elisheva, step- grandchildren Kyle and Willie as well as 11 great-grandchildren. She leaves many loving nieces and nephews and their families on whom she has left an indelible mark. A Memorial Service is planned for the afternoon of June 5th at the South Hero Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be in support of animals to the Humane Society of Chittenden County, Kindness Court, South Burlington, VT 05403