Obituary

Barbara Jean Showalter
July 4, 1927 - January 27, 2020

Barbara Jean Showalter

Barbara Jean Showalter
Jul 4, 1927 - Jan 27, 2020

Barbara Jean Showalter
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Barbara was born as the second and youngest child of a farmer and a schoolteacher on a rural in western Colorado. Olathe's population was probably about 600. The railroad track separated the town from poorer farmworkers.

Like most of her classmates, she had no desire to go to college but was physically put into the car by her father who left her at a boarding house walking distance from the University of Colorado in 1945. She was rushed to finish her nursing degree in three years as nurses were needed to support the war effort.

Just after graduating, she married Dale Showalter ( the youngest of 6 boys also born and raised in Olathe). Dale was graduated from Colorado State. Mike then Steve were born in Albuquerque. They moved to Livermore, California to continue Dales' work in "atomic energy" where third son Jack was born.
One more move to Idaho Falls to continue Nuclear Testing taught the couple that working for the goverment would not satisfy their desires. A search for the best schools prompted a move to Mercer Island in 1962. Dales work proved successful so Barbara could quit nursing and tend to her favorite job of raising her family.

Once the kids were old enough, she began to volunteer. Because pregnant teens were not common in classroom's in the 1960's, separate schools were created to educate pregnant teens and later their newborns. She worked as the nurse for one of those schools in the central area in Seattle. Her next volunteer work was for Eastside Domestic Violence (now Livewire) a program for abused woman.

As her son's went to college, she completed a mastor's program at the University of Washington in psycho/social nursing. Determined to help those that needed help she opened her private practice in counseling.

As retirement, daughters-in-law and grandchildern came into the picture, she shut down her office and began to enjoy a more leisurely life. Lots of travel, and a snowbird home in Nevada kept her busy. Being the youngest child and married to a youngest child she excelled at ornery and fun loving.

Her 58 years on Mercer Island started with 5 years in a two story a block from Mercer Crest elementary. Most fondly remembered was the 38 years on the water at the B and D resort. They moved to Covenant Shores in 2004 where first Dale then Barbara passed away.

She is survived by her three sons and seven grandchildren.

 
 

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