Barbara Ellen Higginbotham

1938 - 2021

Barbara Ellen Higginbotham

Ojai - Barbara passed away peacefully on March 10, 2021 in Ojai California after a lengthy illness.

Barbara was born in Oxnard California on December 2, 1938 to Fred and Loretta McMillen. She attended Santa Clara for 1st through 8th grade and then attended Oxnard High School graduating with the Class of 1957. Barbara married Gene Higginbotham in June of 1957 and moved to Ojai. There they welcomed three sons, Michael, Terry, and Dan. Barbara was homemaker and busy mother holding down the fort while Gene was a Ventura County Firefighter and was often called away to many wildfires. She was actively involved in her sons' lives helping with Cub Scouts and Boy Scout activities. Barbara made many trips to the mountains taking a station wagon or pickup truck full of kids up to a remote trail head only to return days later to pick up the dirty bunch. She loved to bake and there was always cookies, brownies, cakes, or pies waiting at home for the boys and all their friends. Barbara enjoyed many camping, backpacking and waterskiing trips with the family and friends. Barbara had various part time jobs over the years and had worked at JC Penney's, the Broadway in Ventura, and Rexall in Ojai. After Gene and Barbara's retirement, they travelled extensively and enjoyed many trips and cruises with their friends. Barbara also enjoyed volunteer work. She was a Pink Lady at the Ojai Valley Hospital for over 30 years. Also volunteered at Ojai Day, Ojai Tennis Tournament, Fourth of July, Ojai Music Festival and HELP of Ojai working at Second Helpings Thrift Store. Barbara and Gene were members of the St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Gene in 2015. She is survived by her son Michael (Cheryl) of Taos New Mexico, son Terry of Green Valley Arizona, son Dan (Valerie) of Ojai and her sister, Janice Rogers of Ojai. Our family would like to thank Nikki Perez, her family, and the staff of Mountain Vista for their excellent care, kindness and the good humor they shared with Barbara. Also, we would like to thank Monique RN and the staff of Assisted Hospice for their care, compassion, and support.

Graveside services with be March 24 at 10:00 am at Nordhoff Cemetery in Ojai. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ventura County Humane Society in Ojai.