Donald August Barrow

Donald August Barrow, 85, of Wrentham, MA, peacefully passed away at his home on Saturday, September 24, 2016. He was the beloved husband of Ellen Austen (Quay) Barrow.Born on November 10, 1930 in Floral Park, NY, he was the son of the late Albert Edward Barrow and the late Ruth Marguerite (Schmidt) Barrow. He attended public schools in Nassau County, Long Island, including Sewanhaka High School. He was a graduate of Cornell University and the Graduate School of Social Work of the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.Mr. Barrow proudly and honorably served in the United States Air Force for two years and was stationed on the Eastern Shore of Virginia at an early warning radar site, becoming a First Lieutenant.During his lengthy social work career, Mr. Barrow worked for the Department of Welfare & Institutions in Virginia. He subsequently served as the Director of Social Work in the Arlington Juvenile Court. He next was the Director of Barney Neighborhood House in Washington, D.C. Moving to HEW (now the Department of Health & Human Services), he served with the Administration on Aging and the United States Children's Bureau for a number of years. Upon retiring from the federal government, he worked for the Virginia Department of Social Services, licensing day care centers and adult homes in the Central Virginia area.In Pennsylvania, he was active with the Boy Scouts of America. While living in Lynchburg, he volunteered with the Amherst County Habitat for Humanity program. He was on the Board of the First Unitarian/Universalist Church of Lynchburg, and assisted at the Red Cross Blood Bank.In 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Barrow moved to Wrentham, MA to be near their daughter. There he made many friends and helped his Pond Meadow neighbors with various projects. He was in charge of the Memorial Garden, he helped set up the Men's Breakfast outings, and he made and maintained the neighborhood bird houses.At the Murray Unitarian Universalist Church in Attleboro, he participated in the Soup Kitchen and church sales, and was a long-time worker in the Food Pantry.During their sixty-one years together, the Barrows traveled extensively, camping in the United States and later traveling abroad. They visited forty-nine states and over thirty-three countries. Mr. Barrow loved canoeing, nature, bird watching, wood-working, reading, and studying history.In addition to his wife, Ellen Austen (Quay) Barrow, Mr. Barrow is survived by his daughter, Amy B. Wilson, and her husband, Christopher T. Wilson, of Franklin, MA, and their children: Katharine M. Wilson of New York City, and Andrew T. Wilson of Boston, MA; and by three sons: Paul W. Barrow, and his wife, Deirdre Barrow, of Brookhaven PA, and their daughters: Dakota E. Barrow of Brookhaven, PA, and Savannah J. Barrow of Warren, RI; Bruce J. Barrow, and his wife, Joan M. Barrow, and their daughter: Elizabeth H. Barrow, all of Great Falls, VA; and Thomas K. Barrow of Apex, NC.He is survived by his brother, Edward Albert Barrow and his wife Naomi, of Downingtown, PA, and by three nieces and their families.Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend a Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA.Mr. Barrow's family has extended an invitation to join them following the Service for a time of food and fellowship as they continue their celebration of his life on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 12:30 p.m. at the Community Center of the Community at Pond Meadow, 279 East Street, Wrentham, MA 02093.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Barrow's memory to one of the following: Habitat for Humanity, Box 1729, Americus, GA 31709-9948; Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA 02703; Community VNA-Hospice, 10 Emory Street, Attleboro, MA 02703. For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200