SOUTH DARTMOUTH — Barbara Benson “Polly” Howes of South Dartmouth, MA, died September 3, 2013, at home. Her husband of 60 years, Davis C. Howes, predeceased her in April 2011. Polly and Davis Howes were devoted to each other. As family remembers, “it seems like they got engaged the day they met.”
She is survived by her children: Alexander Howland Howes, of Kingston, MA, Betts Howes Murray and her husband Wisner, of Cohasset, MA, Timothy Crowell Howes and his wife Jane, of South Dartmouth, MA; and four grandchildren: Francis & Polly Murray, Davis & Alexandra Howes. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Beverly Benson Seamans and Joan Benson Baker, and by a son, Timothy Benson Howes, who lived only four days.
For the last three years she was lovingly cared for at home by a wonderful team of women.
Born May 20, 1931, in Boston, MA, Polly Howes was the middle daughter of the late Barbara Betts Benson and Philip Benson. She grew up in Cohasset and Milton, Massachusetts, and attended Derby Academy (Hingham, MA), Milton Academy, Beaver Country Day School and the Modern School of Fashion and Design in Boston, where she won awards for her fashions. Mrs. Howes’ sense of design carried over into her home and gardens where she enjoyed flower arranging, needlepoint and other decorative arts. At the time of her marriage in 1950, she was a member of the Vincent Club and Junior League of Boston. In 1951 Davis and Polly Howes moved to Alexandria, Virginia when Mr. Howes was called back to active duty in the Navy. They returned to the New Bedford area in 1953 and lived in South Dartmouth for the rest of their lives.
Polly Howes was a member of the Garden Club of Buzzards Bay for over 50 years, the Association for the Relief of Aged Women, Women’s Luncheon Club, Ladies Auxiliary of St. Luke’s Hospital, New Bedford and Low Tide Yacht Clubs, and the Wamsutta Club. Polly was a child of avid sailors; in her older years she sailed every weekend in Padanaram Harbor with her husband in his grandfather’s boat. She enjoyed cruising with friends and family, and told her daughter, “make sure you go cruising with someone before you marry them.” She always had dogs by her side, so it was befitting that she and her late husband served as co-chairs of the recent capital campaign of the Humane Society & Shelter South Coast.
A private family service will be held.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests donations to the Endowment Fund, Humane Society & Shelter South Coast, 31 Ventura Drive, Dartmouth, MA 02747.
Arrangements by Wilson Chapel, New Bedford. www.wilsonchapel.net