Barbara (Burton) Donovan of Manning Drive, Barrington, died Sunday, May 15, 2016, at Rhode Island Hospital. She was the wife of the late Pierce J. Donovan. She had lived in Barrington for 51 years.

She was born on Jan. 23, 1933, in Providence, a daughter of the late Raymond H. and Beryl (Joslin) Burton. She grew up on the East Side of Providence and was a 1950 graduate of The Lincoln School and a 1952 graduate of Katharine Gibbs School. She also held a degree in landscape design from the University of Rhode Island and was an avid gardener.

One of her first jobs was with Fram Corporation in Pawtucket. It was there that she met her “to be” husband, Pierce. They were married in 1955. They moved to Rumford in 1957, and Barbara became active in the Rumford Junior Women’s Club and Rumford PTA and served as president of the Wannamoisett Garden Club. During her tenure as president of the garden club, she directed the staging of a Standard Flower Show and oversaw the placement of the statue of Count Rumford in the garden behind the Rumford Library.

After moving to Barrington in 1964, she became active in the Barrington Little League and served as a coach and major league director of girls softball for many years, as well as serving as treasurer of the league for over 10 years. She was also a volunteer for the R.I. Swimming and Diving Association, the Narragansett Swim League, and the Barrington YMCA (Bayside YMCA) swimming program, as a timer and strokes-and-turns judge at numerous RI, YMCA and AAU swim meets all throughout New England.

Another of her loves was the 30-plus years she spent as a Realtor in Barrington, most recently with Coleman Realtors. She often would say that she loved meeting new people — that everyone was so different and offered such a variety of thoughts.

During the past few years, she spent winters in Tequesta, Fla., where she enjoyed the beach and her many “newfound friends” from all over the country. In her later years she became an advocate for senior causes in Barrington, specifically to help keep seniors in Barrington by providing some sort of housing for the elderly.

She leaves a son: Michael P. Donovan of Barrington, three daughters: Karen J. Donovan and husband Walker Rumble of East Providence, Beth A. Donovan and husband Dean Levy of Cranston, Martha S. Donovan and husband Paul Soares, Jr., of Barrington, and her brother: William A. Burton of Chester, Va. She leaves six beloved grandchildren: Travis, Julia and Alexander Soares, Myles and Samantha Levy, and Bryn Watson. She also leaves her brother-in-law Paul F. Donovan of Cumberland, her cousin Albert O. Saart of Cranston, and several nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Barrington at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25, with a reception for family and friends immediately following. Interment will be at Swan Point Cemetery prior to the funeral at 9:30 a.m. Calling hours are 4 to 7 p.m. on May 24 at Monahan, Drabble Sherman Funeral Home, 230 Waterman Street, Providence. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Bayside YMCA Swimming Program 70 West Street, Barrington, RI 02806 or the Barrington Boosters  PO Box 232 Barrington, RI 02806  monahandrabblesherman.com