It is with great sadness that the family of Barbara Bartow of Middlefield, NY, announces her passing on June 12, 2026. Barbara was 88.

She was born on May 20, 1938, in Mary Immaculate Hospital in Jamaica, NY, to Barbara and Arthur Cook. (Arthur passed away when Barbara was just three months old.)

As a child, Barbara fell in love with South Hill in Worcester while visiting her grandmother’s farm and eventually decided to move to the area.

Barbara married Jan Bartow on August 9, 1969. They lived in Worcester with their three sons and three daughters. She and Jan helped operate Walt’s Restaurant, a family-owned establishment that was founded by her in-laws.

In 1974, Barbara and Jan moved to Cooperstown, where they owned and operated Colonial Florist. In retirement, they opened their house for four months a year as a gift store, known as A Dickens of a Christmas, which operated for 25 years. The gift store exemplified Barbara’s creativity in making handcrafted items that were sold to customers across the country.

Barbara was an amazing person who always put others before herself. She will be greatly missed for her wonderful love and compassion for family and friends.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Jan Bartow; her sister, Leilani Hossain (husband Sohrab); her son, Mark Althiser (wife Fran); daughters, Sherry Phillips, Jenna Wratten, and Sue Markusen (husband Bruce); grandchildren, Marisa and Brandon Phillips, Madeline Markusen, Michael, Alex, Eva, Jacob, Derek, and Keegan Althiser, and Erica Ballina, along with several nieces, nephews, and great grandchildren.

Barbara was preceded in death by her mother and father, Barbara and Arthur; in-laws, Aileen and Walter Bartow; dad, Robert Smith; sons, Christopher, Rae, and Steven; sons-in-law, Dean Wratten and Marty Phillips; and sister-in-law, Nancy Loft (husband Richard).

A graveside service will take place 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19, at Maple Grove Cemetery, Worcester with Reverend Ron Fralick officiating. A reception will follow at the Worcester Fire Department.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara’s name to St. Jude’s www.stjude.org, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation www.t2t.org, or the SPCA of Cooperstown www.sqspca.org

Arrangements will be handled by the Heller & Skinner Funeral Home, 155 Main St. in Worcester; www.hellerskinnerfh.com.