PORTLAND, MAINE — Barbara Ruth (Mitchell) Sullivan, 92, of Portland, Maine, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2026, surrounded by her loving family at Fallbrook Commons Nursing Home. She was born May 9, 1934, in Eastport, Maine, the youngest of ten children born to Joseph and Edith (Hoyt) Mitchell.
Her classmates remembered “Mitch” as a gifted dancer, her nimble feet the envy of all the students.
On August 30, 1952, Barbara married Kenneth David Sullivan, and the two shared 62 wonderful years together. A devoted homemaker and longtime receptionist, she found joy in the everyday pleasures of life, a competitive game of bowling, a round of golf, and the daily challenge of the Bangor Daily News crossword. Most of all, she treasured time spent with her friends and family, who were the center of her world.
Barbara was predeceased by her beloved husband, Kenneth; her brothers, Clifton and Douglas; her sisters, Lois, Audrey, Phyllis, Olive, Norma, Francis, and Eileen; and great grandson Thomas.
She is survived by her six children: Kevin Sullivan and his wife Lovely of the Philippines; Pamela Violette and her husband Mark of Knoxville, TN; Timothy Sullivan and his wife Lisa of Murphy, NC; Diane Cliff and her husband Lee of Hermon, ME; Lori Savage of Portland, ME; and Lynn Sullivan and partner, Cindy, of Portland, ME.
She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren; Shelley, Joseph, Jacob, Bebeng, Ike, Kelley, Jeffrey, Alexander, Blake, Krystyn, Kimberly, Tomas, Jennifer, Jeremy, Kyle, and Cody, and seventeen great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at a later date.
Online condolence messages are available at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service website, www.mainefuneral.com