In Memoriam: Barbara Hinckley, 93, Longtime Elementary Teacher

Barbara M. Hinckley, age 93, of Newtown died on February 12th. She was born in New Britain the only child of William R. and Elizabeth S. Fenn and was a resident of Newtown for sixty years.

A graduate of Central Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University, she met her husband, James, while teaching in Cromwell, Connecticut, and moved to Newtown in 1953 when he became principal of Newtown High School.
Barbara was a devoted homemaker and mother of six when she resumed her career as a second grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 1963. She later taught at Head O’ Meadow Elementary School from 1977 until her retirement in 1991.

Barbara loved bird watching, gardening and good food, providing her family with many memorable dinners and gatherings. She was an avid fan of UCONN Women’s Basketball and professional golf. She enjoyed a competitive game of Scrabble, Yahtzee and other board games.

She is survived by her children: Patricia Ann Reese of Bethel; Linda F. Hinckley of Santa Fe, NM; Susan H. Long and her husband, Marc, of Wilbraham, MA; James F. Hinckley and his wife, Margaret, of Corvallis, OR; and Sara Washicko and her husband, Albert, of Southbury. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Lamine Reese, Louise White DeMong, Curtis Hinckley, Sarah Hinckley Hokama; Michael Hinckley, Matthew Washicko; Kalin Long; and six great-grandchildren. Barbara was predeceased by her husband of fifty years in 1992 and by a son, Peter, in 1955.

The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to Ellie Sturges and Roena Escoe for the years of exceptional care that they provided to Barbara.

Family and friends are welcome to call at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M. on Friday, February 22nd. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 23rd at the Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook. Interment in Newtown Village Cemetery will be in the Spring.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Newtown Scholarship Association, James F. Hinckley Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box # 302, Newtown, CT 06470.

Obituary courtesy of Honan Funeral Home.