Barbara W. "Corky" Fisher

Barbara Waterman Fisher died at home, surrounded by family, on July 25, 2009. She was 81 years old. The cause was brain cancer. Corky, as she was known to friends and family, was married for 58 years to David Walden Fisher. A devoted citizen of Guilford, she was active in many civic organizations including the Board of Education and the ABC program. She could be seen driving around town delivering Meals on Wheels until her diagnosis a year ago. She was born April 17, 1928 in Johnstown, Pa., the daughter of Frederick Walters Waterman and Elizabeth Waters Waterman. She attended the Johnstown public schools and Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Mass. as well as Vassar College. Barbara and David were married in 1950 and settled in Guilford, where both were active in local government. She served on the Board of Education from 1972 to 1983, including five years as chair. She also served on the Guilford Library board from 1970 to 1972, when she was chair; the Sachems Head Zoning Board of Appeals; and was a founding member of the Guilford A Better Chance program and its Secret Gardens tour. Corky took particular pride in the extensive gardens around her home in Sachems Head. She also worked for many years at Breakwater Books, where she obtained a steady supply of literature and stayed in contact with her many friends in town. She was preceded in death by her older brother, Frederick Walters Waterman, her younger sister Elizabeth "Whiff" Eagleton, and her younger brother John Dustin Waters Waterman, also late of Guilford. In addition to her husband, Corky is survived by her four children and their spouses: Alice Waters Gschwend-Fisher and her husband, Thomas Gschwend; Barbara Andrews Fisher; Daniel Dustin Fisher and his wife, Dr. Ann Freeland Fisher; and Andrew Walden Fisher. She also survived by her sister, Alice "Ajax" Eastman, and five grandchildren: Helen, Eva and Andreas Gschwend and Daniel and Samuel Fisher. A memorial service will be held in the First Congregational Church, 122 Broad St, Guilford on Friday, August 21, time to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Guilford ABC Program, PO Box 140, Guilford, CT 06437; Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd, Branford, CT 06405; or the Guilford Foundation, PO Box 35, Guilford, CT 06437. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St, Guilford. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com