Barbara Downes

Barbara Downes Long time South Austin resident Barbara Block Downes died on March 25, 2010 after an accident and brief illness. She was born Barbara Dorothy Block on March 29, 1932 in Hartford, Connecticut. She was one of six children. Her father worked for Vaught Aircraft and when the company moved he moved his family down to Arlington, Texas. Barbara graduated from Arlington High School and went on to complete degrees at the University of Texas. She married and had two children. After several years living in Shreveport, Louisiana where she was active in the civil rights movement, the family moved to Austin in 1960 where she settled and lived in the same house for the remainder of her life. After finishing her degrees at the University of Texas, Barbara worked for the McDonald Observatory, where she programmed the computers that aimed the Observatory's telescopes. She retired after working a number of years at IBM where she was also a programmer. She held many types of jobs during her life from baking and selling her homemade bread, to taking in sewing, arranging flowers, teaching jr. high math, IRS seasonal worker, and mother. She was proud of her efforts as a volunteer for the Austin Pond Society, the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the school for the Blind. Barbara adopted the Phoenix as her personal symbol and her expression for her life. Each time she felt she suffered a setback in life she would rise from the ashes and begin again. She was interested in all life had to offer, was never defeated and never stopped planning new projects. She was kind and loved people of all types, even taking those in need into her home. She loved nature and animals and always had a cat or dog around. Barbara is preceded in death by her mother Dorothy Anderson Block, her father Emil Victor Block and her brother Phillip Block. She is survived by her daughter, Betty Downes McCreary and husband Dan McCreary; her son, Robert Downes and wife Sara Downes; and grandchildren, Carly McCreary, Laura Downes, and Joshua Downes; brother, Robert Block and wife Virginia; her brother, Howard Block and wife Nancy; her brother, James Block; her sister, Judi Boyles and husband William; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, and her dog Tankerbelle. Donations in Barbara's memory can be made to the Town Lake Animal Center, The National Kidney Foundation, The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center or a charity of your choice. A Memorial Celebration of Barbara's life will be held on Saturday May 8th at 1:00 p.m. in the library of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at 4801 La Crosse in Austin.