Barbara McKay Woods Hewin, 91, passed away Sunday, July 8, 2018, at Riverside Hospital, Newport News.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Julie McKay (Hewin) Baldwin and Duane B. Baldwin Jr. of West Point; granddaughter, Cameron Allison McKay, and her wife, Michelle Marie McKay, of Williamsburg; and sister and brother-in-law, Dr. Priscilla (Woods) Baillie and David Baillie III, of Guilford, Connecticut.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Larry M. Hewin; son, James Bryant Hewin; and parents, George Bryant Woods and Doris McKay Woods.
Barbara was born May 17, 1927, in New York City, and she spent her youth primarily in the Northeastern U.S. and Canada. She moved to Virginia in 1948 after marrying Larry and resided in Tidewater for the rest of her life.
She was often quite active in a variety of community activities, most especially as principal costumer for the Peninsula Civic Opera for many years in the 1960s. In the early 1970s she returned to college to complete her degree, and graduated from (then) Christopher Newport College near the top of her class with a B.A. in history. She was a prolific poet throughout her adult life, and her poems were included in Volumes 3 – 23 of the Mid-Atlantic poetry anthology, “The Poets Domain.”
Her life revolved around her husband, family, friends and pets, as well as her creative pursuits. She and Larry were blessed in their final years to receive excellent and very loving care, mostly at home, from Cameron and Michelle, and they, and the rest of the family, were, and always will be, extremely grateful to Cami and Michelle for everything they did over the 11 years they spent caring so fondly for Barbara and Larry. Up until a fall in February, they were able to continue to care for her in her Williamsburg home she had lived in since 1974.
Barbara’s wish was to be cremated and buried with her husband in Arlington National Cemetery in a private service.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Barbara and Larry’s name to the veterans service charity of your choice.
Share online condolences with the family at bucktroutfuneralhome.com.
