Ellen Quay Barrow

Ellen Austen Quay Barrow died on November 16, 2021.  She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1931. Her parents were Paul Quilliam Quay and Katharine Brooks Quay. She was married for 61 years to Donald August Barrow, who died in 2016. She is survived by her daughter Amy B. Wilson and her husband Christopher Wilson, of Franklin, MA; by her son Paul W. Barrow and his wife Deirdre Barrow of Brookhaven, PA; by her son Bruce J. Barrow and his wife Joan Barrow of Great Falls, VA; and by her son Thomas K. Barrow of Apex, NC. Ellen also leaves five grandchildren: Katharine and Andrew Wilson, and Dakota, Savannah, and Elizabeth Barrow. Also surviving are Ellen's sisters-in-law and four nieces.
Ellen attended Malvern School and Hathaway-Brown School in Shaker Heights, OH, before graduating from Holton-Arms School in Washington, D.C. An honors graduate of Wellesley College, Ellen went on to earn a master's degree in social work from what is now Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. It was there she met her husband to be Donald.
As a social worker, Ellen worked in a child guidance clinic and in an adoption agency in Richmond. While her children were young, Ellen worked part-time at various jobs in Media, PA. She stayed active in community service throughout her years in both PA and Lynchburg, VA, where she moved in 1987. Her volunteer jobs were many, and included a nursing home, emergency fuel assistance for the elderly, hospice care, Lynchburg Community Concerts, and a Road to Recovery program for cancer patients.
Upon moving to the Community at Pond Meadow in Wrentham, MA in 2000, Ellen continued her volunteer work at the local senior center and in her community. She and her husband were active members at Murray Unitarian Universalist Church in Attleboro where they helped at the food pantry for many years.
Ellen loved many things: birds, flowers, frogs, dogs and most animals; card games and puzzles and reading; rug and wreath-making; the theater and good movies and restaurants; domestic and foreign travel. In earlier days she enjoyed camping and canoeing all over the country, as well as hiking in the Virginia mountains. Most of all, she loved her family and friends.
A private Celebration of Her Life will be held.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ellen's name to Doctors Without Borders, or to Murray Unitarian Universalist Church of Attleboro, MA.
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 Attleborough. (508) 695-0200