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BORN
1928
DIED
2021
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Barbara Gaddy Obituary
November 4, 1928 - July 6, 2021
Lexington, Kentucky - Dr. Barbara Elaine Gaddy passed away peacefully in Lexington, Kentucky on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Dr. Gaddy was a long-time, respected professor at Transylvania University, where she taught French and Spanish from 1967 to 1995 and impacted many students' lives.
Barbara Gaddy was born in Concho County, Texas on November 4, 1928 to Herschell and Virginia Gaddy and spent her childhood in central Texas. She achieved both her B.A. and M.A. from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas while working for the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway Company. In the spring of 1959, she was honored as the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to study at the University of Lille and the University of Paris (Sorbonne). Upon her return to the United States, she received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Though she was based in Lexington for most of her adult life, she never lost her desire to travel and visited many countries in her lifetime.
Dr. Gaddy is survived by her brother, Ronny Gaddy (Retta), of Georgetown, Texas, and a host of nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held in Richland Springs, Texas on Friday, July 16, at 10 a.m. A showing of some of Dr. Gaddy's works and pictures on Transylvania's campus in Lexington is being planned for early fall.
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Memories and Condolences
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Mary Woodhead Hillenmeyer
July 11, 2023
Dr. Gaddy was a wonderful professor! I will always be thankful that I had the opportunity to study Spanish with her. One May Term at Transy, I was the only person in her upper level conversational Spanish class, an experience that I always remember fondly...... she taught me Spanish and so many valuable life skills. Thankful to have met her on my journey! Mary Woodhead Hillenmeyer
Veronica Dean-Thacker
July 11, 2022
Barbara was instrumental in my getting hired at Transylvania as a new professor of Spanish in 1987, so I am forever grateful to her for that and for serving as a model of excellent language and literature instruction. We had many good talks and laughs over the years, and I miss her kindness and her honesty. She was very dear to us at Transylvania. My deepest condolences to her beloved family.
Mary Woodhead Hillenmeyer
August 16, 2021
Dr. Gaddy was a wonderful teacher. I have great memories from her classes. Her quick wit made her classes so much fun! One May Term at Transylvania, I remember that I had a conversational Spanish class, and I was the only person taking the class. She was tough, fair, and inspiring. I certainly appreciate Dr. Gaddy sharing her gifts and talents at Transylvania. May she rest in peace! My sympathy to her family.
Oakley Coburn
August 13, 2021
Dr. Gaddy was a remarkable professor whose dry wit softened her rigorous expectstions of her students. She made us want to learn the language. Now, fifty years later, I haven´t lost my love of the French language, nor my respect and admiration for her as a professor.
David P. Marthey "75"
August 13, 2021
Always the picture of grace and elegance, Dr. Gaddy was my French teacher at Transylvania University. I am sad to hear of her passing and I convey my deepest sympathy to her Family and Friends.
Phil Hanna
August 13, 2021
Dr. Gaddy twas my French professor at Transy in 1969-1970. She was a very good teacher and I would stay after class to talk with her. We reconnected in about 2008 in person, then by email. I recently found a letter from her. May she rest in peace.
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