Barbara Louise Crow

Barbara Louise Crow
Feb. 15, 1944 - Nov. 7, 2017
Barbara Louise Crow, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend and mentor, died in the hospital surrounded by loved ones Nov. 7, 2017 in Portland. Barbara was 73 years old. She will be remembered for her strength of character and spirit and missed tremendously for her kindness, optimism and ability to connect with people.
Born and raised in Denver, the third of five children, Barbara met her husband, Bud, at Colorado State University. They married and moved to Oregon where Bud attended law school at Willamette University. The young couple lived in Los Angeles for a few years then made Portland their family's home. She loved regular visits to Kona, Hawaii and later Palm Springs, Calif. An enthusiastic volunteer at school, den mother, scorekeeper, coach, and fan, Barbara touched the lives of many Raleigh Hills families. In 1984 she went to work at OHSU coordinating corneal transplants and began her 32 years of service dedicated to sight restoration. She became the Exec. Director of the Oregon Eye Bank at OHSU's Casey Eye Institute in 1987 and then CEO of Lions VisionGift in 1998. She served on the board of directors for Donate Life Northwest and as chairwoman of the Eye Bank Association of America. Barbara enjoyed her well-earned retirement celebration in September of this year and looked forward to continuing adventures with Bud, spending time with her family and friends and expanded time in Palm Springs.
Barbara is survived by her husband and partner of 53 years, Walter "Bud" Crow, Jr.; their three children, Timothy Crow, Michelle Crow Kiehl, and Brenda Crow Porter; and 10 grandchildren that adore her deeply.
A funeral Mass was held Friday, Nov. 10, 2017, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Portland. Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be directed to Lions VisionGift or Donate Life Northwest.
Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits