Barbara and I became much closer after high school when she dated Joe Blanks ('65) and was a close friend of my first wife Sandra King (Alamo Heights '65). I'm glad we spent an hour or so talking at the memorial service for math teacher Mrs. Buecker a few years ago. She was so kind and empathetic; her friendship was as light as the landing of a butterfly but permanent as granite. I shall miss her greatly.
Barbara used to spend the night with me when we were at Lee. She made the most interesting PJs for herself. I'll never forget her one-piece pull-up that she put on like shorts, but it went all the way up to her arm pits. I've never seen nighttime attire like that since!
I am so sad that she's gone. She was really bright and so funny. We kept up by phone after graduation unil the mid-eighties when I moved to Santa Fe. Mercifully, we spent a chunk of time together at the 50th reunion. It just seems impossible to me that she left us so soon.
My heart is heavy today knowing that we have lost Barbara. We were not close friends in school and since I moved away from the SA area, I have not been in close contact with many of my class mates, but my life is richer to have known Barbara. She was a very sweet and kind person and to this day her personality leaves me with a warm feeling just remembering her as she was in high school. God bless her family and friends.
I didn't know Barbara well in high school but I do remember her as a lovely girl with such a sweet demeanor and ready smile. She left this world far too soon and far too young and her family and friends who love her will miss her so. Blessings on all who had the privilege of knowing such an extraordinary lady.
Such a surprise to hear this news. Barbara was always so upbeat & friendly. At the reunion she was so full of energy & was so positive about everything it is hard to imagine that this could have changed in such a short time. It is sad to know such a pleasant & friendly one has been taken from us. I am sure all that knew her feel the loss. My best to her family
I am numb and shocked to hear that Barbara is gone. We were best of friends during our years at Lee. She was my Maid of Honor in 1965 when David & I married. We kept in touch over the years, at funerals, reunions and mostly through legenthy e-mails. We both loved our only sons and often kept up with the direction their lives were taking. Barbara was just a wonderful person, positive attitude, always smiling, very giving & supportive. Through the years she became very strong in her Christian Science faith and very involved in her church. She would give me "words of wisdom" and support when I needed it. She knew God and knowing that helps me accept the fact that she has recived his greatest gift. I will miss her.
Jack was in Barbara's homeroom class throughout high scool. I didn't then know her well, but soon we became life long friends during the days at SAC, in the art department. There were so many wonderful things about Barbara; she was always creative, funny, a great conversationalist, intelligent, a deep thinker, very good listener, and she touched many souls, human, plant and animal, with her kindness. She worked very hard to live a possitive existance, while continually working on self improvement. I always felt at home in her presence.
During the early 70's, Jack and I lived in a duplex next to Barbara. She had two white ducks with their own pond. Her cat and ours had an open invitation to visit each side of the duplex through trap doors in each of our hall closets.
After Jack and I moved to the NASA area, I was honored to be invited back to San Antonio to participate in Barbara and Richard's wedding.
Over the last 15 years, we have been fortunate to have shared many delightful visits and memories with our dear friend, Barbara. We will miss her greatly, but she will always be in our hearts.
posted in its entirety for the Class of 1964, as it was worded for my friends in my own class, the Class of 1963:
in memory of
Barbara Ruth Powlesson Whitaker
January 16, 1946 - April 7, 2016
Barbara, who began calling herself Robin after working with other women named Barbara in two different offices, was graduated with the Class of 1964. I had friends in that '64 class who all knew and loved Barbara, and we often got together as a group. When Barbara wanted to have a party in her home while her parents were out together at another party, she asked my parents to chaperone the party - a condition made by her parents, that at least one parent of her guests be present.
Robin loved the peaches we grew in our backyard, and I often woke up to find her sitting on my back porch, where she would be waiting to ask me if she could eat the ripened peaches. She would always ask, even though I told her to just help herself whenever she was walking past the house to see her friends, Laura and Susie Mills.
In the past year, I was able to help her many times with her work at her church, where she prepared payroll for the church's employees. I would help her to prepare the quarterly payroll tax deposits and the underlying reports. I saved the recorded messages in which she told me how much she dreaded preparing these reports, because she was afraid of making a mistake. Robin took on far too much work, because she would never say no to any request for help in her church's activities.
Robin was deeply religious and prayed for Cheryl all throughout the many months Cheryl was being treated for her dizziness and nausea, yet Robin never told me when she herself was sick with the very same symptoms. As a Christian Scientist, Robin took her Bible to bed with her and prayed. The symptoms did go away, so it would be my guess Robin had displaced crystals which through the Grace of God worked their way back to where they belonged, an easy fix for a doctor had she seen one instead of battling it out through prayer. Nevertheless, I truly believe it was everyone's prayers for Cheryl, and most especially the cards and the prayers from Robin, which God answered to allow Cheryl to get well.
Robin also prayed for me, and I shall miss her kind thoughts and her prayers and now deeply hope she remembers me still in that better place where hopefully all of us will meet again - but not yet, to quote from "The Gladiator".
Since I loved and cherished Barbara very much as a friend, I introduced her to everyone who saw us together at school. If you remember her, please take the time to post a comment.
If I get a chance, I shall copy and paste them to the 1964 class page or better yet ask someone who is already on the website to do so.
Although you can not post on the '64 site unless you request permission to do so, you may read what has already been posted in her memory -
Cheryl says I use the word "love", in her opinion, too freely, but a friend reminded her that Christians can easily use that word, since we are in fact commanded to love one another. I told Doreene I prayed very hard that I would not return from our month's vacation away from the internet to find I had missed the death of a loved friend, since I love each of you and hope we all live at least another thirty years if not longer. Robin's death was very sudden and very unexpected, caused by tumors in her chest she did not know she had and which were pressing on her lungs and on her heart, so that she not only could not breathe but also could not get enough oxygen to her body. So I shall tell you all now, while I am posting this, I love you all and hope to see you at many reunions to come, as many as we are allowed in this beautiful world we share.
Prayers always,
Hal (at that time, my friends knew me as Harold - I was always Hal to my parents)
Barbara Fletcher (O'Connor)
How sad to lose her. She was such a bright woman. So lively and quick witted. I will miss her.
Chris Marrou
Barbara and I became much closer after high school when she dated Joe Blanks ('65) and was a close friend of my first wife Sandra King (Alamo Heights '65). I'm glad we spent an hour or so talking at the memorial service for math teacher Mrs. Buecker a few years ago. She was so kind and empathetic; her friendship was as light as the landing of a butterfly but permanent as granite. I shall miss her greatly.
René Marrou
Judy Ranney
Barbara used to spend the night with me when we were at Lee. She made the most interesting PJs for herself. I'll never forget her one-piece pull-up that she put on like shorts, but it went all the way up to her arm pits. I've never seen nighttime attire like that since!
I am so sad that she's gone. She was really bright and so funny. We kept up by phone after graduation unil the mid-eighties when I moved to Santa Fe. Mercifully, we spent a chunk of time together at the 50th reunion. It just seems impossible to me that she left us so soon.
Blessings to her family and friends...
Jan Maierhofer (Herrington)
My heart is heavy today knowing that we have lost Barbara. We were not close friends in school and since I moved away from the SA area, I have not been in close contact with many of my class mates, but my life is richer to have known Barbara. She was a very sweet and kind person and to this day her personality leaves me with a warm feeling just remembering her as she was in high school. God bless her family and friends.
Jan Maierhofer Herrington
Dennie Box (Scoggins)
I didn't know Barbara well in high school but I do remember her as a lovely girl with such a sweet demeanor and ready smile. She left this world far too soon and far too young and her family and friends who love her will miss her so. Blessings on all who had the privilege of knowing such an extraordinary lady.
David Youngblood
Such a surprise to hear this news. Barbara was always so upbeat & friendly. At the reunion she was so full of energy & was so positive about everything it is hard to imagine that this could have changed in such a short time. It is sad to know such a pleasant & friendly one has been taken from us. I am sure all that knew her feel the loss. My best to her family
Nancy Goodin (Brooks)
I am numb and shocked to hear that Barbara is gone. We were best of friends during our years at Lee. She was my Maid of Honor in 1965 when David & I married. We kept in touch over the years, at funerals, reunions and mostly through legenthy e-mails. We both loved our only sons and often kept up with the direction their lives were taking. Barbara was just a wonderful person, positive attitude, always smiling, very giving & supportive. Through the years she became very strong in her Christian Science faith and very involved in her church. She would give me "words of wisdom" and support when I needed it. She knew God and knowing that helps me accept the fact that she has recived his greatest gift. I will miss her.
Joanna (Jo) Cain (Petersen)
Jack was in Barbara's homeroom class throughout high scool. I didn't then know her well, but soon we became life long friends during the days at SAC, in the art department. There were so many wonderful things about Barbara; she was always creative, funny, a great conversationalist, intelligent, a deep thinker, very good listener, and she touched many souls, human, plant and animal, with her kindness. She worked very hard to live a possitive existance, while continually working on self improvement. I always felt at home in her presence.
During the early 70's, Jack and I lived in a duplex next to Barbara. She had two white ducks with their own pond. Her cat and ours had an open invitation to visit each side of the duplex through trap doors in each of our hall closets.
After Jack and I moved to the NASA area, I was honored to be invited back to San Antonio to participate in Barbara and Richard's wedding.
Over the last 15 years, we have been fortunate to have shared many delightful visits and memories with our dear friend, Barbara. We will miss her greatly, but she will always be in our hearts.
Jo and Jack Petersen
Hal Carson
posted in its entirety for the Class of 1964, as it was worded for my friends in my own class, the Class of 1963:
in memory of
Barbara Ruth Powlesson Whitaker
January 16, 1946 - April 7, 2016
Barbara, who began calling herself Robin after working with other women named Barbara in two different offices, was graduated with the Class of 1964. I had friends in that '64 class who all knew and loved Barbara, and we often got together as a group. When Barbara wanted to have a party in her home while her parents were out together at another party, she asked my parents to chaperone the party - a condition made by her parents, that at least one parent of her guests be present.
Robin loved the peaches we grew in our backyard, and I often woke up to find her sitting on my back porch, where she would be waiting to ask me if she could eat the ripened peaches. She would always ask, even though I told her to just help herself whenever she was walking past the house to see her friends, Laura and Susie Mills.
In the past year, I was able to help her many times with her work at her church, where she prepared payroll for the church's employees. I would help her to prepare the quarterly payroll tax deposits and the underlying reports. I saved the recorded messages in which she told me how much she dreaded preparing these reports, because she was afraid of making a mistake. Robin took on far too much work, because she would never say no to any request for help in her church's activities.
Robin was deeply religious and prayed for Cheryl all throughout the many months Cheryl was being treated for her dizziness and nausea, yet Robin never told me when she herself was sick with the very same symptoms. As a Christian Scientist, Robin took her Bible to bed with her and prayed. The symptoms did go away, so it would be my guess Robin had displaced crystals which through the Grace of God worked their way back to where they belonged, an easy fix for a doctor had she seen one instead of battling it out through prayer. Nevertheless, I truly believe it was everyone's prayers for Cheryl, and most especially the cards and the prayers from Robin, which God answered to allow Cheryl to get well.
Robin also prayed for me, and I shall miss her kind thoughts and her prayers and now deeply hope she remembers me still in that better place where hopefully all of us will meet again - but not yet, to quote from "The Gladiator".
Since I loved and cherished Barbara very much as a friend, I introduced her to everyone who saw us together at school. If you remember her, please take the time to post a comment.
If I get a chance, I shall copy and paste them to the 1964 class page or better yet ask someone who is already on the website to do so.
Although you can not post on the '64 site unless you request permission to do so, you may read what has already been posted in her memory -
http://www.lee64.net/class_profile.cfm?member_id=6234456
Cheryl says I use the word "love", in her opinion, too freely, but a friend reminded her that Christians can easily use that word, since we are in fact commanded to love one another. I told Doreene I prayed very hard that I would not return from our month's vacation away from the internet to find I had missed the death of a loved friend, since I love each of you and hope we all live at least another thirty years if not longer. Robin's death was very sudden and very unexpected, caused by tumors in her chest she did not know she had and which were pressing on her lungs and on her heart, so that she not only could not breathe but also could not get enough oxygen to her body. So I shall tell you all now, while I am posting this, I love you all and hope to see you at many reunions to come, as many as we are allowed in this beautiful world we share.
Prayers always,
Hal (at that time, my friends knew me as Harold - I was always Hal to my parents)