Barbara Nan Crabtree

November 11, 1925 - April 19, 2022
Barbara Bolinger Barker Crabtree
passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 96.
She was born to John and Sarah Bolinger on November 11, 1925 in Wenatchee, WA. She was the younger sister to John C. Bolinger Jr.. Barbara's childhood was spent in eastern Washington State. In 1910 in the town of Methow her grandfather Walter A. Bolinger planted the family's first apple orchard. Bolinger Orchards labeled Radio and Eat Well showcased the fruit of the Methow Valley worldwide.
Barbara attended Wenatchee High, Olympia High and Roosevelt High in Seattle, graduating early at the age of 17. She attended the University of Washington for two years and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She went on to graduate at Wheelock College, a teachers college in Boston, MA. After college Barbara taught kindergarten in Hilo, Hawaii before moving back to Seattle.
In 1949 Barbara married Charles Barker whom she met while attending Olympia High. They had five children together. While working as a substitute teacher she landed a full-time position as a special education teacher at Medina Elementary in Bellevue, WA. She spent many evenings enrolled in continuing education classes to expand her career opportunities. Somehow she made time to be a Brownie and Girl Scout leader. As a mother of five young children she committed her winter weekends on the slopes of Washington State so they could learn to ski. Barbara would be the first to admit those years were challenging ones. You can only imagine the work it took to prepare and get five kids up to the slopes. Occasionally she would volunteer her time during ski races as a time keeper. Barbara spent many summers in the galley of the family's cabin cruiser traveling throughout the San Juan Islands and Canada. With a smile on her face she was always giving and never letting anyone go without. She was an active member in her church at St Thomas in Medina. In 1969 she and Chuck divorced. On a blind date in 1977 she met Glenn Crabtree of Long Beach, CA. They married six months later. She moved to Long Beach where Glenn had a successful real estate business. With Glenn's expertise together they happily started their years of buying apartment houses, office bldg's and sub-divisions. In the mid-nineties with Glenn's retirement on the horizon they moved to Palm Desert, CA. They joined Friendship Church in Sun City Palm Desert, CA. She was active in the many clubs Sun City had to offer and volunteered at the local elementary schools. She loved these years in the desert spending time with her brother John after Glenn's death in 2008. Barbara was a huge fan of Barry Manilow and saw him perform live five times. In Barbara's lifetime she traveled extensively around the world. Barbara was known for her positive attitude and quick wit. She was the nucleus of her family and will be deeply missed.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Faith McCarthy, Barbara's caregiver of six years and the many that helped in her care. Along with Pastor Gary Gulbranson and Dick & Carolyn Teodoro for their support .
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Glenn Crabtree, parents John & Sarah Bolinger, brother John Bolinger Jr. and eldest daughter, Belinda Mayhew.
She is survived by her four children Carol West, Charlie Barker (Debbie), Cecily Scholibo (George) and Sally Lunn, fourteen grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

In lieu of flowers donation's can be made to the
Alzheimer's Association in memory of Barbara Crabtree at
alz.org and click on donate box
or mail check to the
National Processing Center
Alzheimer's Association
PO Box 96011
Washington DC 20090-6011
or to your favorite animal shelter