Barbara Jean (Wilmot) Warburton, of South Dartmouth passed away on Friday December 24, 2004 at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief, acute illness. She was the wife of Dr. Richard H. Warburton; they had been married for 47 years.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Albert and Alice (Whittaker) Wilmot, she was educated in New Bedford. After graduating from Framingham State Collage, she taught elementary education. She married Richard Warburton in 1958 and subsequently returned to the area to live and raise their three children.
She was active in many organizations including the Garden Club of Buzzards Bay, the Ladies Luncheon Club, the New Bedford Port Society, the Framingham Alumni Association, the New Bedford Mother's Club and others. She was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in South Dartmouth. She was also active in many charitable organizations including WHALE, the Rotch-Jones-Duff House, the Zeiterion Theater as president of the board, the Community Foundation where she was a founding member of the Ladies Community Foundation, and President of the St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary.
Active in family affairs and adoring her nine grandchildren, she loved gardening, cooking, reading, travel, and being home with her husband, as well as family and friends.
She is survived by her husband; three children, Pamela Mirick and her husband Robert of Arlington, Virginia, Richard H. "Chip" Warburton, Jr. and his wife Cheryl of Mansfield, and Lynne Najarian and her husband Kevin of Milford; two brothers, Kenneth Wilmot of Rhode Island and A. Charles Wilmot of Needham; nine grandchildren, Kristen, Kathryn, Meredith, and Abigail Mirick, Mikayla and Lindsay Warburton, and P.J., Kacie, and Megan Najarian; and five nephews.
A Celebration of her Life will be held at the Grace Episcopal Church, 422 County St., New Bedford, Sunday January 9, 2004 at 1 PM. Her family will receive visitors in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford on Monday December 27, 2004 from 4-8 PM. Burial in South Dartmouth Cemetery will be private. Please do not send flowers. Remembrances may be made to St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary, 101 Page St., New Bedford, MA 02740.