Barbara Sahlin

Barbara Sahlin Beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, passed away on April 7, 2011. She was born on March 12, 1935 to Walter and Ada Searway in Ashland, Maine where she was raised. She graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington and began her teaching career in Glens Falls, New York. In 1958, she began teaching in Mannheim, Germany at the Dependent School operated by the U.S. Army. During this time, Barbara met her future husband, Edward Sahlin, who was a dentist in the army. She enjoyed traveling with her friends throughout Europe and the Middle East during vacations. Barbara moved to Edward's hometown of Tacoma in 1960 and began teaching for Tacoma Public Schools. They married in 1963. In 1968, they built a house in University Place overlooking Puget Sound and raised their three children. Barbara actively supported education and received the Golden Acorn Award from Sunset Elementary PTA for her work creating a hands-on science lab. Her relationship with Jesus empowered her throughout her life, including being the twenty-third liver transplant recipient at the University of Washington in 1990. Barbara is survived by her husband of 48 years, Edward; son Kurt and wife Kim and grandsons Ben, Zach, and Luke; son Eric and wife Christi and grandson Scott; daughter LeAnn Miller and husband Eric; siblings Albert "Bub" Searway (Joyce), Nelson Searway (Ellie), Majorie Grey, Janis MacDonald (Albert); and many nieces and nephews. Barbara was sustained all her life by her love of Jesus, family, and friends. The family requests remembrances in Barbara's name be made to the UW Foundation Liver Transplant Service Gift Fund (call 206-543-6192 for details) or to the charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday April 20, 2011 at Praise Covenant Church, 3501 South Orchard St., Tacoma WA 98466.