Obituary

Allen J. Barter

Wed, 05/31/2023 - 9:00am

Allen Joseph Barter, 75, died May 28, 2023 at Lincoln Health Miles Campus in Damariscotta.

Allen was born Jan. 8, 1948 in Boothbay Harbor Maine, the son of Donald Sumner Barter and Helen Virginia Joyce Barter. 

In the summer of 1952, Allen contracted polio, spent approximately a year in rehabilitation at the Hyde Center in Bath, returning home able to walk with braces on both legs and two crutches. Later surgeries reduced those to one braced leg and a single cuff crutch. In spite of his disabilities, he attended Boothbay Harbor schools and participated in most normal childhood activities.

Around 1960, the family began spending winters in Florida where he attended public school in Fort Lauderdale, then St. Thomas Aquinas High School his freshman and sophomore years. The family then returned to Boothbay Harbor year-round where he attended Boothbay Region High School his junior and senior years, graduating in 1967.

He attended business school in Portland for two years. He then returned to Boothbay Harbor where he served as dispatcher for the fire and police department and at times the Lincoln County dispatch in Wiscasset for several years. 

He married Kathryn Dodge of Southport, Maine and they moved to Portland where Allen worked at a number of places including Fairchild Semi-Conductor, University of Southern Maine Gorham and then at Unum until he was no longer able to work due to the polio complications. The family then moved back to Boothbay Harbor.

Allen enjoyed the outdoors, camping and especially liked fishing at the family home on West Harbor Pond, at public access areas on a variety of Maine lakes and at his sister’s home in a Moose Pond community in Bridgton.  
Allen was predeceased by his parents, Donald and Helen Barter and is survived by his wife Kathryn Barter, son and daughter-in-law Scott and Kristen Barter, granddaughter Scarlett, grandson Axel, and brother Alfred Barter, all of Boothbay Harbor, and sister Joyce Barter of Bridgton, Maine.

Visiting hours will be held Friday, June 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hall Funeral Home, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay.  A service and burial will take place at a later date.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Boothbay. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.hallfuneralhomes.com