Ashland man was the `rock’ of his church
Ernie Barrows wasn't a big talker. He wasn't flashy, and he wasn't a star. He was just the guy who didn't disappear when there was work to be done, the guy people counted on to handle the small stuff so the big things ran right.
By Julia Spitz/TAB staff
Ernie Barrows wasn't a big talker.
He wasn't flashy, and he wasn't a star.
He was just the guy who didn't disappear when there was work to be done, the guy people counted on to handle the small stuff so the big things ran right.
For as many years as anyone around the Federated Church can remember, he was the one who set up for weddings and funerals, baptisms and church fairs.
``As a kid growing up, I always remember him ringing the bell'' to call worshippers to Main Street on Sunday mornings, said Bob Hebden.
``Ernie was one of the rocks,'' said John Ellsworth, a church member and former selectman. ``He was one of those people other people come to count on.''
Barrows died Friday at the age of 92. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m., at the church where his family has worshiped since the town's Protestant denominations joined to form the congregation in 1919.
``He really has influenced the lives of many young people in a very quiet way,'' said his cousin, Irene Brown of Southborough.
Several church members have told her Barrows was one of the first to greet them, she said.
The church supply closet is known as ``Ernie's closet,'' in honor of his decades as the church's sexton, said Brown, and ``even when he couldn't get out much, he would collate the Sunday bulletin at home.
``He was 92, but it's still a shock to people that Ernie died,'' said Brown. ``He was very outgoing in a very quiet way.''
``He had a knack for making things run smoothly,'' said church member David Hansen. ``He was there all the time, really taking care of things.''
When his niece, Brenda Barrows of Millis, was young, she knew ``we'd be put to work. I used to go help put the white runner down (at the church.'' And when she got married, it was her uncle who set up the church for her big day.
``When my dad wasn't home, he was the parent. When I'd do something stupid, he'd just sit in the chair and shake his head,'' she recalled.
Barrows had a special place in his heart for children.
``He loved the kids,'' said his niece. He particularly appreciated drawings and other gifts Sunday school students made for him.
He worked with local Boy Scout troops and served as a custodian at the Mindess School for 20 years.
``He was a very loyal, dedicated employee,'' said Hebden, who was Barrows' boss at the school. ``He had just one pace, and that was constant.''
Before taking the school job, Barrows worked for the town's Cemetery Department. ``It was back in the days when they'd dig the grave by hand, with a pick and shovel,'' said Hebden.
Barrows kept diaries of his jobs, salaries and church work. The family has given the books to the church.
``I didn't know all the odd jobs he did to survive,'' said Brenda Barrows.
``He used to mow lawns and stuff,'' said his younger brother, Stanley, but mostly, ``his activity was all at the church.''
``He was a great man, really,'' said fellow church member Nancy Hansen.
Ernie Barrows wasn't a big talker. He wasn't flashy, and he wasn't a star. He was just the guy who didn't disappear when there was work to be done, the guy people counted on to handle the small stuff so the big things ran right.
By Julia Spitz/TAB staff
Ernie Barrows wasn't a big talker.
He wasn't flashy, and he wasn't a star.
He was just the guy who didn't disappear when there was work to be done, the guy people counted on to handle the small stuff so the big things ran right.
For as many years as anyone around the Federated Church can remember, he was the one who set up for weddings and funerals, baptisms and church fairs.
``As a kid growing up, I always remember him ringing the bell'' to call worshippers to Main Street on Sunday mornings, said Bob Hebden.
``Ernie was one of the rocks,'' said John Ellsworth, a church member and former selectman. ``He was one of those people other people come to count on.''
Barrows died Friday at the age of 92. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m., at the church where his family has worshiped since the town's Protestant denominations joined to form the congregation in 1919.
``He really has influenced the lives of many young people in a very quiet way,'' said his cousin, Irene Brown of Southborough.
Several church members have told her Barrows was one of the first to greet them, she said.
The church supply closet is known as ``Ernie's closet,'' in honor of his decades as the church's sexton, said Brown, and ``even when he couldn't get out much, he would collate the Sunday bulletin at home.
``He was 92, but it's still a shock to people that Ernie died,'' said Brown. ``He was very outgoing in a very quiet way.''
``He had a knack for making things run smoothly,'' said church member David Hansen. ``He was there all the time, really taking care of things.''
When his niece, Brenda Barrows of Millis, was young, she knew ``we'd be put to work. I used to go help put the white runner down (at the church.'' And when she got married, it was her uncle who set up the church for her big day.
``When my dad wasn't home, he was the parent. When I'd do something stupid, he'd just sit in the chair and shake his head,'' she recalled.
Barrows had a special place in his heart for children.
``He loved the kids,'' said his niece. He particularly appreciated drawings and other gifts Sunday school students made for him.
He worked with local Boy Scout troops and served as a custodian at the Mindess School for 20 years.
``He was a very loyal, dedicated employee,'' said Hebden, who was Barrows' boss at the school. ``He had just one pace, and that was constant.''
Before taking the school job, Barrows worked for the town's Cemetery Department. ``It was back in the days when they'd dig the grave by hand, with a pick and shovel,'' said Hebden.
Barrows kept diaries of his jobs, salaries and church work. The family has given the books to the church.
``I didn't know all the odd jobs he did to survive,'' said Brenda Barrows.
``He used to mow lawns and stuff,'' said his younger brother, Stanley, but mostly, ``his activity was all at the church.''
``He was a great man, really,'' said fellow church member Nancy Hansen.
Ashland man was the `rock’ of his church
Ernie Barrows wasn't a big talker. He wasn't flashy, and he wasn't a star. He was just the guy who didn't disappear when there was work to be done, the guy people counted on to handle the small stuff so the big things ran right.
By Julia Spitz/TAB staff
Ernie Barrows wasn't a big talker.
He wasn't flashy, and he wasn't a star.
He was just the guy who didn't disappear when there was work to be done, the guy people counted on to handle the small stuff so the big things ran right.
For as many years as anyone around the Federated Church can remember, he was the one who set up for weddings and funerals, baptisms and church fairs.
``As a kid growing up, I always remember him ringing the bell'' to call worshippers to Main Street on Sunday mornings, said Bob Hebden.
``Ernie was one of the rocks,'' said John Ellsworth, a church member and former selectman. ``He was one of those people other people come to count on.''
Barrows died Friday at the age of 92. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m., at the church where his family has worshiped since the town's Protestant denominations joined to form the congregation in 1919.
``He really has influenced the lives of many young people in a very quiet way,'' said his cousin, Irene Brown of Southborough.
Several church members have told her Barrows was one of the first to greet them, she said.
The church supply closet is known as ``Ernie's closet,'' in honor of his decades as the church's sexton, said Brown, and ``even when he couldn't get out much, he would collate the Sunday bulletin at home.
``He was 92, but it's still a shock to people that Ernie died,'' said Brown. ``He was very outgoing in a very quiet way.''
``He had a knack for making things run smoothly,'' said church member David Hansen. ``He was there all the time, really taking care of things.''
When his niece, Brenda Barrows of Millis, was young, she knew ``we'd be put to work. I used to go help put the white runner down (at the church.'' And when she got married, it was her uncle who set up the church for her big day.
``When my dad wasn't home, he was the parent. When I'd do something stupid, he'd just sit in the chair and shake his head,'' she recalled.
Barrows had a special place in his heart for children.
``He loved the kids,'' said his niece. He particularly appreciated drawings and other gifts Sunday school students made for him.
He worked with local Boy Scout troops and served as a custodian at the Mindess School for 20 years.
``He was a very loyal, dedicated employee,'' said Hebden, who was Barrows' boss at the school. ``He had just one pace, and that was constant.''
Before taking the school job, Barrows worked for the town's Cemetery Department. ``It was back in the days when they'd dig the grave by hand, with a pick and shovel,'' said Hebden.
Barrows kept diaries of his jobs, salaries and church work. The family has given the books to the church.
``I didn't know all the odd jobs he did to survive,'' said Brenda Barrows.
``He used to mow lawns and stuff,'' said his younger brother, Stanley, but mostly, ``his activity was all at the church.''
``He was a great man, really,'' said fellow church member Nancy Hansen.
Ernie Barrows wasn't a big talker. He wasn't flashy, and he wasn't a star. He was just the guy who didn't disappear when there was work to be done, the guy people counted on to handle the small stuff so the big things ran right.
By Julia Spitz/TAB staff
Ernie Barrows wasn't a big talker.
He wasn't flashy, and he wasn't a star.
He was just the guy who didn't disappear when there was work to be done, the guy people counted on to handle the small stuff so the big things ran right.
For as many years as anyone around the Federated Church can remember, he was the one who set up for weddings and funerals, baptisms and church fairs.
``As a kid growing up, I always remember him ringing the bell'' to call worshippers to Main Street on Sunday mornings, said Bob Hebden.
``Ernie was one of the rocks,'' said John Ellsworth, a church member and former selectman. ``He was one of those people other people come to count on.''
Barrows died Friday at the age of 92. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m., at the church where his family has worshiped since the town's Protestant denominations joined to form the congregation in 1919.
``He really has influenced the lives of many young people in a very quiet way,'' said his cousin, Irene Brown of Southborough.
Several church members have told her Barrows was one of the first to greet them, she said.
The church supply closet is known as ``Ernie's closet,'' in honor of his decades as the church's sexton, said Brown, and ``even when he couldn't get out much, he would collate the Sunday bulletin at home.
``He was 92, but it's still a shock to people that Ernie died,'' said Brown. ``He was very outgoing in a very quiet way.''
``He had a knack for making things run smoothly,'' said church member David Hansen. ``He was there all the time, really taking care of things.''
When his niece, Brenda Barrows of Millis, was young, she knew ``we'd be put to work. I used to go help put the white runner down (at the church.'' And when she got married, it was her uncle who set up the church for her big day.
``When my dad wasn't home, he was the parent. When I'd do something stupid, he'd just sit in the chair and shake his head,'' she recalled.
Barrows had a special place in his heart for children.
``He loved the kids,'' said his niece. He particularly appreciated drawings and other gifts Sunday school students made for him.
He worked with local Boy Scout troops and served as a custodian at the Mindess School for 20 years.
``He was a very loyal, dedicated employee,'' said Hebden, who was Barrows' boss at the school. ``He had just one pace, and that was constant.''
Before taking the school job, Barrows worked for the town's Cemetery Department. ``It was back in the days when they'd dig the grave by hand, with a pick and shovel,'' said Hebden.
Barrows kept diaries of his jobs, salaries and church work. The family has given the books to the church.
``I didn't know all the odd jobs he did to survive,'' said Brenda Barrows.
``He used to mow lawns and stuff,'' said his younger brother, Stanley, but mostly, ``his activity was all at the church.''
``He was a great man, really,'' said fellow church member Nancy Hansen.
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