Obituary of Barbara O. Waldroup

Barbara O. Waldroup (Oldford), a former executive secretary and loving mother, passed away on October 5, at the age of 92. Barbara was born to her parents Stewart and Hilda in Cambridge MA but grew up in Burlington MA. After graduating from Burlington High School, Barbara went to secretarial school. She worked for multiple companies in the insurance and healthcare industries, such as Bard and Semicon.

Barbara spent the first 70 years of her life in Burlington, where she stayed involved in the community. She was the head cheerleader while she was at Burlington High School, and always supported the team after her time there. After his return from the Korean War, she started dating William Waldroup who she had known her whole life. She and her husband William built their home on Mohawk Road, where they had a wonderful community of neighbors and friends. She loved supporting her kids and grandkids at their sporting events, always cheering from the sidelines at their baseball, football, and drum corps events. Barbara was not only “Nan” to her grandchildren, but to everyone in the community.

Barbara maintained her independence through her whole life. In 2002, when she was contemplating moving into a retirement community, she found another home online, and put an offer in. Barbara’s offer was accepted, and she bought her own home up in Saco, ME, to the great shock of her whole family. It was a second life for her up there. She enjoyed working and volunteering around the community. Barbara volunteered as a shuttle driver for the Senior Center, getting residents to their doctors’ appointments and other events. She also volunteered at the Sweeters Home for Children. Barbara taught herself how to garden and rescued a dog to keep her company.

Barbara was the loving mother to Robert Waldroup of Kotzebue AL, Linda May Small and her husband Lawrence of Billerica, MA, and Craig Waldroup of Chelmsford MA. She was the proud grandmother of Christopher Fowler and his wife Erin of Fairhaven, MA, Benjamin Fowler and his wife Jennifer of Milford, NH, and Alexander Fowler, and his wife Christine of Salem, NH. Barbara was the treasured great-grandmother to nine, and great-great grandmother to one. She was the caring sister to her late siblings, James Oldford, Elise Howes, Wallace Oldford, Kenneth Oldford, and Margaret Nelson. Barbara was the dear partner of twenty years to the late Antonio Amico.

A visitation for Barbara will be held on Sunday, October 15, from 2 to 5 PM, at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington, MA 01803. Funeral services will begin at the funeral home at 5 PM. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Barbara’s memory to Chelmsford Senior Center.

 For online guestbook, tribute video, and service information, please visit www.sullivanfuneralhome.net