Barbara “Barb” Lakin, 78, left us for a better place on June 8, 2024, after a long battle with diabetes. Barb’s parents, Donald Lakin and Gladys Charlton Lakin, met in Worcester, England during WWII. Barb was born there on March 21, 1946 and arrived in the U.S. with her mother 18 months later to join her father in Bath. The family moved to Sheepscot in 1954 where Barb grew up and graduated from Lincoln Academy in 1964.
Barbara worked for the state of Maine at Pineland Center in New Gloucester for 27 years until the facility closed in 1996. She went on to work at Elmhurst and Home Health until retirement age.
Barb was an avid photographer and forced everyone to pose for pictures whenever possible. She used her photos to make many beautiful scrapbooks commemorating events in the lives of those she loved. She was also a collector of many things, including cookbooks, dishes, and Elvis Presley memorabilia. Barb’s favorite collectibles, though, were family and friends whom she spoiled rotten.
She leaves her sister, Sydney Faulkingham and husband, Forrest, of Alna; nephews, Michael Faulkingham, Robert Dupell, Richard Dupell, and Todd Dupell; nieces, Amy Faulkingham, Debra Painter, and Denise Dupell; and many well-loved great nieces and nephews. Barbara didn’t have children of her own but her partner and love of her life for over 30 years, Dick Elwell, shared his children, Mike Elwell and wife, Sam, of Bath, Bob Elwell and wife, Norma, of Arrowsic, and Allen Elwell and wife, Maryanne, of Arrowsic. Their children and grandchildren brought Barb a great deal of joy. Barb also had many wonderful friends who meant the world to her.
Although she struggled with dementia at the end of her time here, she would regularly ask about friends, never forgetting their names, their shared memories, and how much they meant to her.
Barbara loved dogs and cats, usually rescued from animal shelters, as well as turkeys, chickens, and geese (all safe from the chopping block with Barb!). All her furred and feathered friends died of old age, most recently her last two dogs, Gabby and Stella, just before she went into the hospital. Her beloved cat, Jake, is now running the show at her sister’s home, as it should be.
Barbara was predeceased by her partner, Dick Elwell; her sister, Leslie Dupell; and her parents, Donald and Gladys Lakin.
A celebration of her life will be held on July 14, 2024, 1-4 p.m. at the Harriet Bird Clubhouse, 619 Sheepscot Road, in Newcastle. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite animal shelter.
