Barbara Lindberg

1922 - 2018

Barbara Newell Lindberg

Barbara Ann Newell Lindberg was born August 11, 1922, in San Francisco, daughter of Minton and Grace Newell, both of Irish heritage, and passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, November 2, 2018.
Barbara attended Castilleja School, Palo Alto CA, Piedmont High School, Piedmont CA and the University of CA, Berkeley CA where she earned a B.A. in History and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, enjoying a robust social life.
After college graduation Barbara married Bill Lindberg, to whom she was married for 33 years. Leading up to and during World War Il, Barbara and Bill lived in Nashville TN and Indianapolis IN. In Nashville, while Bill trained to be a Front-Line Observer with the Army Artillery, Barbara worked as a nurse's aide at Vanderbilt Hospital.
When Bill was deployed to the European Theatre, Barbara returned to San Francisco to wait out the war.
When Bill returned, they moved to Mineral WA for two years where Bill worked for Ladd Logging Company, a family business, while Barbara, an educated city girl, adapted to life in a small logging community. During this period their eldest daughter, Martha, and their son, Bill, were born.
Barbara and Bill then moved to Lafayette, CA, so Bill could pursue a sales career in San Francisco and Barbara settled in as a wife, mother and community volunteer. They family was delighted to return to their roots and become reacquainted with their many high school and college friends. During this period their youngest child, Isabel was born.
Following another career opportunity, Barbara and her family returned to Lakewood WA. In addition to being a wife and mother, Barbara was a committed and effective community volunteer. She participated in and held leadership positions with the Garden Club of America, The Center for Urban Horticulture, the Rhododendron Species Foundation, the Rock Garden Society, the Junior League of Tacoma, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Aloha Club and the Tacoma Country and Golf Club.
In 1978 Barbara became a single woman and evolved into the incredible person she was meant to be.
She earned an A.A. degree in Anthropology at Pierce College, traveling to Canyon de Chelly National
Monument on Navajo Tribal lands in northeastern Arizona, camping with her much younger classmates. She travelled to every continent in the world except the North and South Poles. Her collection of art and artifacts from her foreign adventures is wonderful.
As a mother and a grandmother Barbara was known for her fabulous cooking skills, her wonderful holiday celebrations, her love of literature, her enthusiasm for the California Bears, the Seattle Seahawks, her adventurous spirit and her support and encouragement of education and career ambitions. She was a feisty gal with a wicked sense of humor and she suffered no fools. Her children remember her for our trips clamming at Ocean Shores, skiing at Timberline Lodge, arising at 5 am to get us on the ski bus every winter morning, trips to the symphony, the Fifth Avenue Theatre, the Seattle Rep, the Pantages Theatre and art museums too numerous to mention.
Barbara is survived by her daughter, Martha Lindberg, grandson Geoff Moller and great grandson, Luke Moller, grandson, Jeremy Moller and granddaughter Katherine Akyuz and great grandchildren Alexandra,
and Atom Akyuz. Son, Bill Lindberg and granddaughter Courtney Lindberg; daughter Isabel Lindberg Campbell (Michael) and granddaughter Mellissa Andrews (Jim) and great grandchildren Braxton, Grace and Bailey Andrews and grandson Sam Houston (Mariesa) and step granddaughter, Shannan Campbell. In addition, she is survived by her beloved niece and nephews, Anne Callahan (Jim), Peter and Dona Newell, and Minton and Manisse Newell.
We are profoundly grateful to her companion and caregiver Barbara Kaapana for 14 years of total devotion to our Mother. And to caregivers, Margaret Cragin, Anne Muigai, and Sabina Stewart. They made the last years of her life bearable, and safe. They were instrumental in keeping her in the best shape ever.
Funeral service will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 10630 Gravelly Lake Dr, SW, Lakewood WA at 2pm on Sunday November 18th, followed by a wake at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Barbara's name to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Lakewood WA; Franciscan Hospice — University Place WA; or Lakewold Gardens, Lakewood WA,
Fly away, sweet girl. You will be sorely missed.