Barbara Henry Bender

Barbara Henry Bender

Our mother, Barbara Henry Bender, died peacefully at age 78 on Sunday, March 27, 2016, with her husband and children by her side.

She was the second of three children born in Seattle to Elizabeth Calvert and Langdon Chapin Henry, Jr. Barbara was the granddaughter of Seattle pioneers William and Edna Calvert and Langdon and Genevieve Henry. She graduated from the Saint Nicholas School and attended the University of Washington, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

In 1959 she married G. Philip Koon and they had three children, Todd Philip, Ann Elizabeth and Stephen Henry.

After attending the Dabney Medical Technology and Secretarial School, Barbara spent time in the medical field. Later she joined Windermere Real Estate and had a successful career as a real estate agent. Happy pastimes over the years included downhill skiing, fly fishing, cruising in the San Juans, scuba diving, kayaking, bird watching, cooking and golfing. She always enjoyed gardening and had a vegetable garden almost everywhere she lived.

Barbara loved the sights, sounds and smells of the Pacific Northwest and the Puget Sound. She had a huge store of energy and a contagious sense of humor and was blessed with the cherished camaraderie with many life long friends. Above all, Barbara treasured the close bond she shared with her family and rejoiced in their times together. She will be remembered for her high spirits, loyalty, generosity, thoughtfulness, and her love of life.

In 1997 she married Robert Edwin Bender, with whom she spent the rest of her life.

She was a founding member of the Helen Morrison Guild of Seattle Children's, and a member of the Highlands Arboretum Guild, the Junior League of Seattle, the Seattle Garden Club, the Sunset Club and the Colonial Dames of Washington.

Barbara's survivors are her husband Bob, daughter Ann Koon, son Steve Koon (Ksenia), 6 beloved grandchildren, and brother L. Chapin Henry III. Her son Todd and sister Ann Henry Bohart preceded her in death. Barbara leaves an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews; as well as many devoted friends.

A Celebration of Barbara's Life will be held at The Seattle Golf Club on Wednesday, April 27th, 2016, from 3:00 until 6:00. Any remembrances may be sent to The Florence Henry Memorial Chapel, 722 - North 145th Street, Shoreline, WA 98133, the Henry Art Gallery, 4100 - 15th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98105, or to Providence Hospice of Seattle, 425 - Pontius Avenue North #300, Seattle, WA 98109.