Barbara Gay Wheeler Lees

Barbara Gay Wheeler Lees May 30, 1932 to January 7, 2017 Barbara, 82, was born in Cambridge, Mass. and died peacefully in her sleep in San Luis Obispo, Calif. She lived the early part of her life in Port Washington, N.Y. on Long Island and often mentioned how much she enjoyed visits to Manhattan in those years. She attended Wooster College in Ohio before transferring to Pembroke College (at Brown University) where she graduated with a degree in English. She married Fred Goodman on August 27, 1955. They lived many happy years in Ann Arbor, Mich. where they raised 3 sons, Peter, Timothy and Christopher. Barbara moved to California in 1979 where she met the second love of her life, Melvin Lees. After marrying in 1980, they lived in Calabasas and Morro Bay until settling in San Luis Obispo, where they immersed themselves in the community. Barbara participated in archery, knitting clubs, Solstice Sisters and was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. She was a lifelong musician who played the cello, French horn, piano and sang in choir. She was a cellist in symphonies in Plymouth, Mich., Ventura, Calif. and San Luis Obispo. In addition to her professional performance career, she was a highly respected and talented music teacher. Barbara will be greatly missed by her family and friends and remembered for her larger than life personality and desire to make people laugh and learn. She is preceded in death by her mother, Hesterella Wheeler; her father, Robert D. Wheeler; her brother, Robert Wheeler and husband, Melvin Lees. Barbara is survived by her three sons, Peter (Rhonda) Goodman, Tim (Darci) Goodman and Chris (Kathryn) Goodman; along with her grandchildren, Zachary and Amanda Goodman, Molly Goodman, Matthew, Jordan and Jessica Goodman. A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, on April 1, 2017, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2201 Lawton Ave, SLO 93401. Donations in Barbara's memory may be made to: Wilshire Hospice, 277 South St., Ste. R, SLO, CA 93401. wilshirehospicecc.org Sign her guestbook at sanluisobispo.com/obituaries