On Thursday, January 28, 2021, Margery “Marge” Ann (Barbour) Phinney of Little Compton passed away at the inspiring age of 98.  Her final days were spent at home surrounded by the love and laughter of her family.  She was the wife of the late William H. Phinney to whom she was married for 57 years before his passing in 2005.

Daughter of the late Eric N. and Helen E. (Edwards) Barbour, she was born in Rochester, NY, on September 26, 1922.  At an early age, she moved to Providence with her mother and two sisters to live with her grandparents, Florence and Clarence A. Barbour, who was President of Brown University at the time.  

While there, she attended the Mary C. Wheeler School, where she later served on the Board of Trustees.  Soon after she graduated from high school, she attended Post Junior College in Waterbury, Conn., where she pursued a secretarial degree.  Driven by her adventurous side, however, she left school early to experience life in Hollywood, California.  While there, she enjoyed working at the local USO and helping our soldiers.  She soon after returned to Providence where she entered the working world as a bank teller with the Industrial National Bank.   

Through mutual friends she met her husband Bill and had two children.  She returned to work once her youngest was old enough to attend school.  She was an Administrative Assistant for the Providence School System, the Moses Brown School and her last ten years at Brown University in the Athletic Department.  

She became a Charter Member of the Barrington Junior Women’s Club and President of the Board of Directors at the Sargent Rehabilitation Center.  She also served on the Board of Directors of RI Hearing and Speech. And for fun, in their home town of Barrington, both Bill and Marge belonged to the Barrington Players and were in quite a few plays and musicals.

They began as summer renters in Little Compton in 1965 until 1974 when she and Bill bought a home near the beach, which they dubbed “Phinney Pharm”, where they retired in 1981.  In retirement, aside from playing golf at the Sakonnet Golf Club, she got involved in several local organizations: the town Budget Committee, Planning Committee, and Conservation Commission; the Wellness Center's Board of Directors; the Little Compton Historical Society and the Sakonnet Preservation Association; and, Deacon at the United Congregational Church, as well as the first Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees. 

She is survived by her two children, Bonnie and Craig; four grandchildren, Claudia, Blair, Brandon, and Trevor; and four great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her grandson, Blake; and two sisters, Eleanor and Carolyn.

For a more detailed obituary, please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com