Barbara L. (Sullivan) Dolloff, 82, of Chester, NH passed away Sunday, February 10, 2019 at the Kirkwood Corners Assisting Living Facility in Lee, NH surrounded by family. She was born on January 1, 1937 in Melrose, MA a daughter of the late Leo and Edith (Conway) Sullivan. As a life-long learner and a teacher, Barbara’s influence on her community was far-reaching. Many people carry wonderful memories of Mrs. Dolloff as a beloved kindergarten teacher or a college professor. With degrees in Human Services, Education, Psychology, and Criminal Justice her knowledge was as far-reaching as her influence and spanned 2 continents. One of her most memorable achievements was teaching in London, England and traveling with her mother. Her passion for teaching was second only to her passion for her community of Chester, which she shared with her husband, Red. Pioneering teaching CPR classes to Chester students, she was the First Lady of the Chester Fire Department, the face of the omelet breakfast involved fundraising, education, and community service with the department. Her volunteerism includes decades of service on the Board of Trustees for the Wilcomb Townsend Trust, a long-time and beloved ballot clerk, and one of the founding members of the Chester Community Clothes Closet. One of her joys was becoming a Justice of the Peace and officiating hundreds of marriages of family, friends, former students, and even the occasional stranger who knocked upon her door. The totality of her achievements are too numerous to mention but her love and legacy will be felt by all who loved her for generations to come.
She is survived by her three sisters, Marjorie A. Gould and Jane Sullivan, both of Chester, and Virginia Harris of Maryland, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Her family was at the heart of all she did and making magical memories for all her many nieces and nephews an essential part of who she was. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 49 years Raymond I. “Red” Dolloff in 2011 and also by her three brothers, Robert J. Sullivan, Richard L. Sullivan and William F. Sullivan.
Calling hours were held on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 from 3 – 7pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry. Funeral services were held on Thursday at 10:00am in the Chester Congregational Baptist Church, Chester. Barbara will be laid to rest with her husband in the spring in Great Hill Cemetery, Chester. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Chester Firefighters Association, Chester Fire Department, 27 Murphy Dr., Chester, NH 03036 or Wilcomb Townsend Trust, 84 Chester Street, Chester, NH 03036.