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Barry E. Ewing
Barry E. Ewing, 80, longtime resident of Southern Avenue, Essex and the
loving husband of Elizabeth “Betty” (Squibb) Ewing, died Sunday, January
23, 2022 in the Beverly Hospital.
Born in Ipswich on October 17, 1941 he was the son of the late A. Gordon
and Edna R. (Blauvelt) Ewing. Barry was raised in Ipswich, a 1959 graduate
of Ipswich High School. Following graduation Barry was employed delivering
milk to businesses from Ipswich to Boston for Zervas Dairy while also
working for Raytheon. A lifelong avid sailor, Barry inherited his love for
the sea from his grandfather, a sea captain from Nova Scotia. Hired as an
engineer by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Falmouth, he boarded the
research vessel R.V. Chain on which he sailed around the world. As a young
man, he became a Master Mason, following in the footsteps of the many
Ewing men before him in joining the John T. Heard Masonic Lodge in
Ipswich. Barry worked for several years at the Ipswich Power Plant and
later started his career as an engineer for the New England Power Company
in Salem. Here he worked rebuilding turbines and consulting at power
plants across the country until his retirement after twenty plus years.
It was during his time working on the R.V. Chain and in between trips to
sea that Barry met the love of his life, Betty. The two married in 1973
and settled in Essex, where they restored an antique home and raised their
two girls. There, Barry joined the First Congregational Church, where his
faith and giving back were an important part of his worship. He especially
looked forward to cooking eggs for the Men’s Saturday Breakfasts. Barry
introduced the call of the sea to his wife and daughters, passing on his
love of sailing to them, who subsequently took pleasure in many trips on
their sailboats up and down the New England coast. He treasured taking
friends and family on sailing trips to George’s Bank for a ‘look at the
whales.’ He served as a board member of the Eastern Point Yacht Club for
many years. In retirement, Barry and Betty swapped the sea for the
mountains, enjoying many summers along the Magalloway River in Wilsons
Mills, Maine. Passionate about the outdoors he and Betty loved their long
hikes in the woods, watching the wildlife, and sitting by the campfire.
Back in Essex, Barry could be seen many warm days up in his beloved,
restored barn, with the doors open inviting the neighborhood and his best
friends to come up for a drink, talk politics, and share some of his
favorite stories we all came to know so well. A lover of all things
mechanical, he liked collecting antique tools, building toys for his
grandchildren, and plowing out the neighborhood with his antique John Deer
Tractor. He was a voracious reader of anything involving ships, US
History, and the Civil War. A fan of the New England Patriots, he enjoyed
watching Sunday games, especially with his grandsons. Above all else,
Barry’s five grandchildren were his world and he loved nothing more than
spending time with them. Barry’s adventurist spirit, sense of humor, and
dedication to family have been passed down to his grandchildren who love
and miss him dearly.
In addition to his wife Elizabeth, he is survived by his two daughters,
Rebecca A. Kelly and her husband Robert of South Kingstown, RI, Carleen E.
Thurlow and her husband Adam of Essex and five grandchildren, Olivia and
Anna Kelly both of South Kingstown, Isabella, Henry and Charlie Thurlow
all of Essex. He was the brother of the late Richard Ewing formerly of FL,
Richard Somers formerly of CA, Gary Somers formerly of ME, Peter Somers
formerly of NH and Connie Prince formerly of MD.
Barry’s funeral service will be held 11 am Friday in the First
Congregational Church, 39 Main Street Essex followed by interment in the
Spring Street Cemetery, Essex. Family and friends vaccinated and wearing
facial masks will be cordially invited. Arrangements are under the
direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich. In lieu of
flowers memorial contributions in his name may be made to the First
Congregational Church of Essex, PO Box 275, Essex, MA 01929 (www.fccoe.org)
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