Phoebe Washburn Driver

DRIVER, Phoebe Washburn long-time resident of Westwood, Massachusetts and North Haven, Maine, died peacefully on August 22, 2008 at age 100. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, she was married for 51 years to Charles Benjamin Barnes, who died in 1980. In 1987, she married William R. Driver who predeceased her after 14 years of marriage. She is survived by her daughter, Phoebe Caner and son-in-law, John E. Z. Caner of Seattle, daughters, Josephine Lea Iselin and Cornelia B. Barnes both of New York City, and her son, Charles Benjamin Barnes Jr. and daughter-in-law Connie Thomson Barnes of Medfield, as well as 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her stepchildren, Sally Anderson of Roswell, New Mexico, William R. Driver of Ottawa, Ontario, Senta Driver and Mary Driver, both of New York City, and Emily Moore of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mrs. Driver was an accomplished author and poet, having published three books of poetry and an oral history with artist Gardiner Cox, painter of some of the great figures of the mid-20th century. She was an avid sailor in the waters off her beloved island, North Haven, and a life-long salmon fisherwoman who captured the essence of fishing the great rivers of Norway, Scotland, Iceland and the Gaspe Peninsula in her 2002 book, "A Salmon Fishing Journey". A funeral service will be held at St. Paul's Church in Dedham, Mass at 12 noon on Saturday, September 13, 2008. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mrs. Driver's honor to the North Haven Library. J.S. Waterman & Sons & Waring Wellesley 781-235-4110