Carolyn Barber Obituary

Carolyn Bryant Row Barber died in her home, surrounded by loved ones, at the age of 89 after a short illness. She was the wife of Kenneth Hawthorne Barber, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her children: Kenneth Charles Barber, Douglas Hawthorne Barber and Nancy Row Barber, all of Colorado Springs; a twin brother, Charles Herbert Row, Jr. (Joy), of Maitland, Florida; four grandchildren: Christopher Syftestad Barber, Kristina Nicole Barber, Joshua Kenneth Barber and Lezer Amanuel Barber; a cousin, Robert Row (Louise), of Pearland, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Rosemary Barber Braun (Owen), and Gladys Lamb Barber of Atlanta, Georgia, and many loved nephews and nieces.

Carolyn and her twin brother were born in Oklahoma City and reared in San Antonio, Texas where their father was a petroleum geologist for Sun Oil Company. She attended River Road Country Day School, Woodlawn Elementary School, Horace Mann Jr. High School, and, then new, beautiful Jefferson High School, where she was in National Honor Society and was the Major of the famous Lasso Girls Drill Team. She received a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from the University of Texas in Austin, where she was in Pi Lambda Theta honorary education sorority, was a candidate for Blue Bonnet Belle and for University Sweetheart, in Glee Club and other groups. The Wesley Foundation was her "home away from home". In her senior year she served as President of her sorority, Delta Gamma. She was also an Orange Jacket, a sophomore honorary. She did graduate work at the University of Colorado in Boulder and in Colorado Springs. She was on the faculty of St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio for several very happy years before meeting her husband, Ken, who was in flight training in San Antonio following his 1948 graduation from West Point. They married in November of 1949 and began military life in the Philippines stationed at Clark Field. Her favorite stations of 20 years of Air Force life were the US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, where Ken was with the initial teaching cadre, teaching military studies, and Albrook AFB in Panama Canal Zone, where Ken taught at the School For Latin America.

Carolyn loved her family and her homes. She loved nature and all the wild animals around her house, and she particularly enjoyed classical music and her church. In Air Force life as well as civilian life she sang with many singing groups and choirs. She had many interests including politics, genealogy, poetry, nature and people. She loved animals, and especially loved the many dogs that were privileged to live in her house. She was a tender mother, a loving wife, an amazing cook and entertainer, and a devout Christian. She looked forward to eternal life with our Lord and loved ones. Carolyn was a member of chapter CE of PEO, Delta Gamma Alumnae, Officers Wives Club at the US Air Force Academy, Officers Christian Fellowship, MOAA, Cheyenne Mountain Republican Forum, Garden of the Gods Club, Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs Symphonic Guild, Pioneers Museum, Zebulon Pike Chapter of DAR, Colonial Dames, the National Huguenot Society, and First Presbyterian Church.

A celebration of new life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on November 10, 2014, at First Presbyterian Church. A private inurnment will be held at the US Air Force Academy cemetery, where she will be buried beside her husband, Ken.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful 11th floor staff at Penrose Main Hospital, Gentiva and BrightStar home care and Pikes Peak Hospice for making this short but deadly illness more bearable for all of us. Our mother had the gift of encouragement and was always a guiding hand and stellar support for those who were privileged to know her throughout her long and interesting life. She is leaving a mom-shaped hole in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, friends may send contributions to Officers Christian Fellowship 3784 S. Inca St., Englewood, CO 80110-3405 ocfusa.org, or to the Colorado Springs Philharmonic PO Box 1266, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1266 csphilharmonic.org.