Barbara Lippincott Martin, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend, sailor, volunteer, and longtime matriarch of her family, passed away peacefully on September 4, 2026, at the age of 96.

Born January 3, 1930, Barbara was raised in Palmyra, New Jersey, the younger daughter in a family of eight children. From an early age, the Delaware River and sailing were woven into the fabric of her life. Her father, Howard Lippincott, was an architect and avid sailor, and the family’s beloved boat, Pythagoras, carried them between the Delaware River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Barbara inherited that sailing spirit wholeheartedly. As a young woman, she sailed competitively, often racing against her siblings, and became known throughout the region for her determination and skill. She collected numerous racing victories, including placing sixth in a national race, and won the Duster Class at the Governor’s Cup Regatta in Riverton.

It was at a regatta that Barbara met the love of her life, John Martin. Like Barbara’s father, John was an architect and a sailor. They married in 1952 at Christ Church in Riverton and began their life together on Lippincott Avenue, raising their five children and creating a home filled with family, friends, boats, and countless memories.

More than 50 years ago, they moved to Bank Avenue, where their home became a gathering place for generations. Barbara and John spent countless weekends traveling to regattas with their children, who inherited their parents’ love of sailing and competition. The family’s traditions extended far beyond the water. Their famous Fourth of July gatherings brought together as many as 100 family members on Barbara’s patio, celebrating family, friendship, and their shared Riverton roots.

After John’s death in 1984, Barbara continued to build a life centered around family, community, and service. She volunteered with the Women of Christ Church and the Cinnaminson Home Board, contributed her time to Zurbrugg Memorial Hospital, and served as a secretary for the Riverton Yacht Club. The club later honored her with a lifetime membership and named her Honorary Commodore, a distinction reflecting her decades of dedication to the club and its community.

Barbara was also a hardworking and independent woman. She worked as a bookkeeper for the W.G. Seither Studebaker dealership in Palmyra and later for Lippincott Boat Works, a family business owned by two of her brothers. She eventually handled the bookkeeping for her husband’s business and, until the age of 87, continued working for her son John’s architectural firm.

Barbara also quietly supported generations of sailors and artists who came to Riverton. When visitors arrived for multi-day regattas or weeklong art classes, she opened the doors of her Bank Avenue home and provided them with a place to stay. She believed in making people feel welcome.

Her generosity extended to the community as well. Recognizing the importance of the Riverton Yacht Club and its waterfront, Barbara took legal action to provide permanent permission for the club to use the tidal area along her property, an important step in the expansion and stabilization of the club’s pier. She continued to welcome the public to gather along the water’s edge to watch the annual RYC Raft Race each Fourth of July.

Above all, Barbara was devoted to her family. She was “Mom” to five children — Barbara (Glenn) Smyth, John (Rosanne) Martin, Richard (Stephanie) Martin, Robert (Cathy) Martin, and Jane (Michael) Kinzler. She was “Grandmom” to 16 grandchildren and “Great-Grandmom” to 10 great-grandchildren who adored her.

Her children carried her family traditions forward in their own ways, continuing the family’s love of sailing, craftsmanship, community service, and Riverton.

Barbara’s legacy reaches far beyond her accomplishments. She created a home where family gathered, where sailors and artists were welcomed, where Fourth of July celebrations became cherished traditions, where weddings were celebrated, where regatta parties are still held, and where generations learned the importance of family and community.

Her son John once described her as someone who was loved and respected not only by her immediate descendants, but by their entire extended family: “Everyone in our broad, extended family considers her to be THE matriarch.”

That legacy will live on through the family she built, the community she served, and the many people whose lives she touched.

Barbara is survived by her five children, 16 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, extended family, and many dear friends.

Funeral Arrangements

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Christ Church, Riverton, New Jersey.

A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Church. Burial will take place immediately following the service in the Memorial Garden.

In Lieu of Flowers

Memorial contributions in Barbara’s honor may be made to:

Christ Church Riverton

500 4th Street

Riverton, NJ 08077

Christ Church was the spiritual home of Barbara’s life — the church where she and John were married in 1952, where she volunteered faithfully for decades, and where her family will gather to celebrate her life.

Riverton Steamboat Landing Foundation

P.O. Box 2911

Riverton, NJ 08077

Barbara shared a deep and lifelong bond with the Riverton waterfront. The Delaware River shaped her childhood, her marriage, and her legacy, and the Riverton Steamboat Landing Foundation carries forward the preservation of that historic riverside community she so dearly loved.