Barbara Meincke Howes

Barbara “Bobby” Meincke Howes, 99, of Chatham, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was the devoted wife, for 49 years, of the late Frank L. Howes. Bobby was born in Evanston, Illinois, July 7, 1925, the daughter of the late Howard and Virginia (Wright) Meincke. She attended Ferry Hall, Lake Forest, Illinois and later Pine Manor Junior College, Wellesley, Massachusetts. During WWII Bobby returned home to Glencoe, Illinois to volunteer with the Red Cross, where she was an ambulance driver transporting the injured soldiers arriving from overseas to area hospitals. Bobby spent her summers in Chatham where she learned to sail at Stage Harbor Yacht Club. Her love of sailing came from her Danish roots, a descendent of Danish ship captain Andreas Falch Meincke, who owned the famed clipper ship, Sovereign of the Seas. You could always find Bobby sailing with friends on her 13-foot Catabout built by Spaulding Dunbar in the 1930’s. One such day sailing in the sound off Stage Harbor she was unable to return since her centerboard was jammed and couldn’t be lowered. She had no option but to continue sailing towards Monomoy as dense fog rolled in. Thankfully, she landed at the tip of Monomoy with a friend and they walked to the Coast Guard station to learn that many fishermen and the Coast Guard had been looking for her. Bobby continued sailing and joined Stone Horse Yacht Club in Harwich Port after she became the first woman skipper of a 25-foot Wianno Senior she named, Varuna. She was a fierce competitor in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s and won numerous races and series including The Wianno Senior Rowley Challenge Trophy in 1951,1952,1953 and 1954 allowing her to retire the trophy and commission another trophy for the club. Her crew called her Captain Mike and were proud to sail under her direction.
In 1955, Bobby married the love of her life Frank L. Howes a descendent of Thomas Howes, one of the founding families of Chatham in 1637. They moved to Dover, Massachusetts, and continued summering in Chatham as both their extended families lived there. While raising their two daughters, Bobby volunteered with the Junior League of Boston, St. Andrews Episcopal Church of Wellesley, and Charles River School while working as a successful real estate broker in Wellesley and Dover. After Frank retired, they built their retirement home on land in Chatham where the Godfrey Windmill once stood before it was moved to Shattuck Place. Frank, whose family summered in Chatham, would ride his bicycle to that same windmill, not realizing that someday he would build a home there.
Unfortunately, they enjoyed only a few years together at their new home before Frank suddenly passed away, in 2004. Bobby’s kindness, generosity, humor, and the countless stories of her nearly 100 years of life entertained many who visited her. Bobby’s family is a part of the fabric of Chatham as she and her siblings were shareholders of A.M. Meincke & Sons, Inc., better known as Stage Harbor Marine. Bobby loved Chatham and her spirit will live among the ocean winds that gave her so much happiness. Bobby is survived by her daughters, Virginia Howes Anton and her husband Charles of Westford, Sandra Howes Wilson, and her husband Harry of Scituate; grandchildren, John C. Anton and his wife Janelle, Christopher G. Anton, a great-grandson Charles J. Anton; and many nieces and nephews. Bobby was also the sister of the late Howard D. Meincke Jr. and the late Alicia Meincke Pothier.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Bobby’s caregiver, Marianne, who had a special bond with her. The support and compassion of the Norwell VNA and Hospice during her final days made a profound difference for the family.
A funeral service will be held Friday, January 24th at 11:00 at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 625 Main Street, Chatham.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Bay Community Boating, PO Box 21, North Chatham, MA 02650   https://pbcb.cc