Posted on 12/11/2018
Barbara Miller Gustafson peacefully passed away on December 6, 2018 in Naples, Florida surrounded by her loving sons Andy and David and their spouses Dorie and Christine. Born on May 2, 1925 in Conshohocken, PA, she was the daughter of Paul and Minnie Miller.
She attended Friends' Central School in Philadelphia and then went on to graduate from Connecticut College in New London, CT. Shortly after her graduation, she met, fell in love and married Lieutenant Robert B. Gustafson, a Naval Academy Graduate serving on submarines. Bobby enjoyed being a "Navy wife" and did much volunteer work for the Naval Relief Society. She loved to say she moved 14 times and enjoyed every place they lived which included tours of duty in Panama, Key West and Hawaii. Bobby also taught school in Waterford, CT and Radford High School in Hawaii.
After 30 years as a Navy wife, Bobby and her husband, Captain Robert (Bob) Gustafson, settled down in Lyme, CT. They built a home on Hamburg Cove overlooking the
Connecticut River where they enjoyed beautiful sunsets, sailing their sloop Bequia to many ports in Long Island Sound and entertaining many of their wonderful friends at their beloved Hamburg Cove home.
Bobby enjoyed meeting people and making them feel welcomed. She was an outgoing, energetic person, always willing to volunteer to help and support the community. Bobby enjoyed many activities over the years such as golf, paddle ball, gardening, boating, dancing and the arts. Bobby belonged to the First Congregational Church of Lyme, the Old Lyme Country Club, Florence Griswold Museum of the Old Lyme Art Colony, the Hamburg Cove Yacht Club, the Old Black Point Beach Club and the DAR.
As Bobby, nicknamed GG, said, "I lived a wonderful life".
After Bob's passing she moved to the retirement home The Carlisle in Naples, FL to be near her son Andy. There Bobby made friends with many wonderful people. Bobby told the family she wanted to thank all her caregivers from the Carlisle Assisted Living Facility, and Just Like Family for their caring support and work of making her daily life better. The family would like to thank all of you and the people at Avow Hospice in Naples, FL.
She is survived by her 2 sons and daughter in laws, grandchildren Megan, Drew, Eric, Matthew and his spouse Chelsea, Emily and her spouse Matthew Petricone and great twin granddaughters Mara and Ava.
There will be a private service at The United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland at a future date. Bobby will then rejoin her husband in the Naval Academy Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT, The Wounded Warrior Project, The Humane Society of the United States or The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
Arrangements are being made by Legacy Options, LLC of Naples, FL. Please visit the Legacy Options website at www.legacyoptions.com to leave condolences.
Published in Naples Daily News on Dec. 11, 2018