Edward George Barber (93) passed away peacefully on October 13, 2023, surrounded by family at his home in Burlington, Vermont.

Eddie, as he was known to friends and family, was born on June 20, 1930 in White Lake, New York to Albert and Hazel (Stephenson) Barber. He graduated from nearby Monticello High School, and briefly attended Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York. He returned to White Lake and continued to work in the family trucking business, started his own family, and later laid plans to follow his new found interest in skiing. 

Along with his family, he built the Andirons Motel and Lodge in West Dover, Vermont near the new Mount Snow Ski Area.  This ski town would become home to Eddie for most of his life.  He met his wife and life partner, Sandy mother to two of his children where together they raised a family and helped build a community. They operated the Andirons through much of the 1960s and 70s. Eddie’s entrepreneurial spirit had him building, owning, and/or participating in several other businesses in the Mount Snow area over the years – most notably the Brook House Country Store, from which they both retired in the late 1980s.  

Eddie was a man of many talents and could do most things to which he set his mind.  He famously liked to say something he learned from his dad: “nothing is impossible, some things just take a little longer”.  He loved to help others with a project or a problem whenever he could.  He gave back to his community volunteering over years for organizations such as the Deerfield Valley Chamber of Commerce, the West Dover Volunteer Fire Department, the West Dover Congregational Church, and the North Branch Fire District’s Prudential Committee. He enjoyed throwing a good clambake, doing this annually for the community during the early days at the Andirons, and then on occasions to help raise money for a community cause or a summer gathering of friends and family.  He was also a proud, long-time member of the BPO Elks.  

Some of his most cherished memories with family and friends include working on various projects like building a house or a deck or fixing a vehicle. He especially loved being outdoors, hunting and fishing with his sons and grandsons, skiing during his younger years, picking berries, spending time over the summers at the family cabin on Lake St. Catherine, and family trips to Florida with his wife, kids, and family friends.

Eddie is survived by his wife Sandra A. (Gaughan) Barber, their son Frederick and his wife Sandra Hamlet of Cambridge, Vermont, and their daughter Amber and her husband Ben Broe of Burlington, Vermont; also, by Eddie’s ex-wife Lois Fleming of Milford, Pennsylvania and their two children Edward J. and his wife Cindy of White Lake, New York and Daniel T. of Hemlock, New York. Also, Eddie leaves behind four grandchildren that he loved dearly, Sean, Kelly, Ethan and Jake and three great grandchildren Quinlan, Lillian, and Elizabeth. He also leaves behind his brother Harold and his wife Paula of White Lake, New York as well as his sisters-in-law, Inez and Barbara, and his many nieces and nephews.

Eddie was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved sister Irene Filosa and brother-in-law, Peter, brother Russell and sister-in-law and good friend, Marilyn, brother James and daughter-in-law, Colleen. 

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life is being planned for Summer, 2024. Be on the lookout for information on this early next year.  

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the West Dover Congregational Church (https://westdoverchurch.org/giving/), the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund (https://appengine.egov.com/apps/vt/vtfwd_fishandwildlifetrust), and/or The Converse Home (https://www.conversehome.com/about-converse-home/make-a-donation/).