Avis de décès de Barbara-Chapin Williams - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

Barbara Chapin Williams, 94 years young, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday (April 28, 2014) at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, N.Y.She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Jan. 22, 1920, the daughter of Alvin?E. and Helen Mather Chapin. She grew up in the Cleveland area, graduating from the Hathaway-Brown private girls school in Shaker Heights, Ohio. After high school, Barbara attended Scripps College in Claremont, Calif., obtaining a degree in typography, graphic design and fine arts.Barbara worked for one year for her college art teacher and noted artist, Millard Sheets. Eventually, she moved to New York City, where she worked for Holiday House publishing company and did public relations work for the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers). In 1951, she accompanied Andree Ferris, artist and illustrator, to the Festival of Britain. Working under the sponsorship of the American Association of University Women, Barbara led the creation of the Carnival Caravan concept with George Kimmick's Art Mobile concept and supported by the New York State Art Teachers Association. Barbara was very active in the Art Mobile project, which brought five art exhibits to small towns via trailer.On June 15, 1966, she married Glenn E. Williams in the Shakespeare Garden of Central Park. After the marriage they traveled extensively, living in France, Ireland and Hawaii.Returning to Wellsville after the death of her mother, Barbara and Glenn opened their home as the Mather Homestead Museum. It was a hands-on Museum for the sighted and visually impaired. Glenn died in April of 1987.Many people enjoyed the reading of the Declaration of Independence on the porch of the homestead every Fourth of July. The annual Easter egg hunt, with hard boiled eggs hand painted by local artists with Braille labels, was enjoyed by many generations of young people. Barbara especially enjoyed Halloween with pumpkin carving, the many costumed children and giving out treats on the front porch.Very active in the Democratic Party, she did public relations work for Daniel Inouye in Hawaii and George McGovern in Minnesota. Many congressmen and senators received her letters when ""things weren't just right.""Being very concerned about the environment, human rights, peace and music, she was an active participant in the Bump the Dump campaign, recording an oral history of each day's activities and collecting material that filled many scrapbooks. Barbara believed that everyone should be treated equally and with respect, regardless of their station in life. She loved all music, especially when played by young musicians who she encouraged to continue with their gifts.In 2000, Barbara was proclaimed Senior Citizen of the Year by the Office of the Aging for her work with Meals on Wheels.Barbara was an active member of the Thelma Rogers Historical Society of Wellsville, The Allegany Arts Association, The Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club, the Western NY?Association of Historical Agencies, the Creative Writers of the Southern Tier and the Thursday Night Dinner Group at the Coffee?Mill.She is survived by several cousins, including Barbara Cobb of Ulysses, Pa., and her children, Meredith and David, and by many dear friends.Visitation will be in the Mulholland-Crowell Funeral Home in Wellsville on Saturday (May 10, 2014) from 1 until 2 p.m. when services will be held with the Rev. Ralph Eastlack officiating. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellsville.Following the service, friends are invited to the First Congregational Church Fellowship rooms for refreshments and a time to share memories.Memorials may be made to Music on the Lawn, through the David A. Howe Public Library, the Allegany Arts Association or the organization of the donor's choice.