Barbara Sanderson Wells, of Guilford, died peacefully on Sept. 9. She left this life surrounded by her family in the comfort and support of the Hospice at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown.

She is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, LCdr. John (Jack) Bartlett Wells U.S.N.; her four children, Wendy Wells (Steve Waldo) of Randolph Center, Vermont, Christopher Wells of Guilford, Timothy Wells (Priscilla) of Mystic, and Sarah Wells Honsberger (Jeffrey) of Westbrook. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Barbara was born on June 23, 1925, and spent her early life in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts. She attended Westbrook College in Maine. After marrying Jack in 1949, the Navy took them around the world, including Tokyo, Japan, for three years and several states along the Eastern Coast of the United States. Jack retired from the Navy in 1966 and the Wells family moved to the historical house at 33 Fair Street. Barbara was well known for her flower arranging and gardening, needlework (crewel and embroidery), knitting, and quilting. Her love for quilting inspired her to create hundreds of quilts for the walls, dolls, laps, and beds of her friends and family over the years.

Barbara was a member of the First Congregational Church, Guilford, for 49 years and will always be remembered for her dedication to the congregation by the weekly flower arrangements and seasonal flower displays. She was also a member of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America, The Shoreline Quilter’s Guild, and a supporter of the New England Quilt Museum.

A memorial service will be held for Barbara on Saturday, October 17 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in Guilford. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Shoreline Quilters Guild, PO Box 293, Branford, CT 06405. To sign the online guestbook, please visit hawleylincolnmemorial.com.

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