Barbara Joan Golden Erickson
GORHAM, MAINE β Barbara Joan Golden Erickson, 84, died at her home on December 20, 2016.
She was born August 17, 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Hubert and Evelyn (Tufford) Golden. She graduated from Venice (CA) High School in 1950 and attended UCLA where she met Raymond βRoyβ Erickson. The two were married in 1955 and traveled in Europe from 1956 to 1958 where Roy found employment as a lecturer in the University of Maryland Overseas Program. They had many adventures in Paris and Germany, building several life-long friendships. In 1957 they lived in a tiny apartment on the top floor of a grand Victorian house named Aberfoyle in Ipswich, England where their first child, Leslie, was born.
They returned to the U.S. in 1958 after Roy accepted an appointment as assistant professor at Whittier College in Los Angeles. While they were living in California, Laurel, their second child, was born.
In 1963, after receiving his PhD in psychology, Roy accepted a position at the University of New Hampshire. They lived in Durham, New Hampshire where their third child, Douglas, was born in 1970. In 1972 they moved to Exeter, which was their true home. They lived on Lantern Lane for over 30 years.
Lantern Lane was the scene of many happy times β gatherings for the holidays, summer barbecues and endless board games, card games and croquet and bocce ball in the big back yard. Leslie and her husband George were married at Lantern Lane in 1984.
Roy passed away in 2002 and in 2012 Barbara moved to Gorham to be near family. She loved her condo and the wild turkeys that would visit in her back yard.
Barbara was a kind and warm person who valued clear expression of opinion. A life-long liberal, she had an intense interest in politics and current affairs, both local and global. She had the special gift of being able to walk up to complete strangers and start a conversation, thereby beginning many friendships. Her keen curiosity and sense of humor will be sorely missed.
Barbara was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, Roy Erickson. She leaves three children, Leslie (and George) Cooper of South Portland, Maine, Laurel Erickson (and Jennifer Burris) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Douglas Erickson (and Megan Boley) of Salem, Massachusetts; six grandchildren, including Katie Cooper of Portland, Maine and Rob Cooper of Portland, Maine; sister Susan (and Gary) Seekins, of Kennebunk, Maine; and brother-and-sister-in-law, Frank and Lois Erickson of Williamsburg, Virginia. Barbara greatly valued her friendship with Cheryl Poitras who assisted her in the final years of her life.
A remembrance service will be held in the spring.
Online condolences may be expressed below.
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