M. Robert Barter, 94, of Boothbay Harbor, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2023, at St. Andrews
Village in Boothbay Harbor. He was born May 6, 1929, in Lubec, Maine to parents Merrill S. and Ora
(Small - later Dodge) Barter.
Bob grew up in Boothbay Harbor and attended local schools, graduating from Boothbay Harbor High
School. After high school, he went to Husson College in Bangor, and then served in the United States Air
Force and the Maine Air National Guard.
After discharge from the service, he returned to Boothbay Harbor where he worked as a Lincoln County
Deputy and a photographer for the Associated Press before opening Bob’s Photo-TV, which he operated
for many years. Bob was a proud Mainer, but more specifically, he was proud of being from the
Boothbay Harbor region. He was a charter member of the Boothbay Region Ambulance Service, a
member of the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department, a member of the American Legion Post 36, Town
Clerk of Boothbay Harbor and Lincoln County Commissioner for many years, and a former head of the
National Association of Counties. In 1992 he won the Clerk of the Year award.
He was very generous and family oriented and loved when he could show off his hometown to family
members and friends that came to visit, hosting many clambakes and get-togethers at his house.
Bob was predeceased by his parents, his wife Virginia L. (Ross) Barter, and his stepfather Erwin Dodge.
He is survived by his two children, Merrill Barter and wife Anne, and Jennifer Smith and husband Hazen;
granddaughters, Katrina Smith, Meghan (Smith) Rice and husband Ryan, Sarah Barter, Sonia Barter and
Kate Barter; and great-grandson, Jacoby Rice.
Memorial donations in Bob’s name can be made to Midcoast Humane, 5 Industrial Parkway, Brunswick,
ME 04011.
Halls of Boothbay has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, visit Bob’s book of
memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.