Person:Barbara Leech (1)

(Obituary) BARBARA JUNE ARMS BURLINGTON - Barbara June Arms, 84, passed away peacefully in Fletcher Allen Health Care on Dec. 5, 2008, from heart disease. A special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Fletcher Allen Health Care for their compassionate care to Barbara during this time. Barbara was born on April 20, 1924, in Ohio to Walter C. and Averil (Bevins) Leech. After her father died at a young age from tuberculosis, she moved to Vermont with her mom and sister. Due to circumstances at the time, she spent much of her young years here in Vermont away from her mom and younger sister, living with her aunt and later working for a local family to pay her room and board. Barbara married Willard C. Arms Jr. in 1943 and began a family. Barbara was predeceased by her daughters Laurie Gonyo and Kathleen Champ; and her sister Virginia Hamlin of Colchester. She is survived by her loving son Kenneth Arms of Essex; and her grandchildren Kevin Kalanges of Manchester, Conn., Randy Marcove of Denver, Colo., Chance Gibson, Colleen Champ of Amherst, Mass., Raymond Champ of Stamford, Conn., and Jason and Sara Arms of Essex. Also survived by her great-grandchildren Christopher and Katey Kalanges, Elijah and Annabelle Palmer, and Lincoln, Max, and Charlie Marcove. Barbara will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. Her love for her family, for animals (especially cats), and her contagious personality will remain vivid with her friends and family forever. The memories of her outgoing nature and infectious sense of humor will continue to brighten the thoughts of all of those who's lives she became a part of. There will be no public memorial services held. The immediate family will be holding an intimate personal celebration of her life together. In lieu of flowers donations sent to the Humane Society of Chittenden County in Barbara's name would be greatly appreciated. Arranged by Elmwood-Meunier.

Published in The Burlington Free Press on Dec. 9, 2008