Barbara Gooding

1933 - 2021

Barbara Gooding
May 13, 1933 - January 8, 2021
Bellevue, Washington - Barbara Beatrice (White) Gooding passed away peacefully on January 8, 2021 in Bellevue, WA. Barbara was born on May 13, 1933 in International Falls, Koochiching County, MN to William "Bill" and Beatrice "Bea" (Olson) White. She was the oldest of Bill and Bea's six children. From her time in The Falls, Barbara had many stories and many lifelong friends.
After high school graduation in 1951, Barbara joined her parents in Renton. She soon got a job with the Department of Fisheries in the Smith Tower in downtown Seattle. It was here that she met her future husband, Don Gooding.
Barbara and Don married in 1955. They were soon joined by four daughters Paula, Tracy, Alison, and Lynn. Like most women at the time, Barbara stayed home to run the household and manage the children. In 1968, Don's work as Director of Publicity for Air West Airlines led the family to San Mateo, CA for 18 months of California living.
In 1970, the family moved to Olympia, WA. Barbara wasted no time in getting involved in local, state, and national political issues. Her good friend Marie Cameron introduced her to the local League of Women Voters chapter and a close-knit group of friends was born. Barbara's work for the LWV on the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment earned her a citation in the book Feminists Who Changed America 1963-1975.
Barbara returned to the work force in the late 1970s as a legislative assistant to several legislators. During this time, at age 45, she started her studies at The Evergreen State College and graduated at age 50, with a degree in public policy. Her senior thesis, Women in the Washington State Legislature 1913-1983, was published and distributed nationwide at the request of the state House of Representatives. Barbara was also very involved in local elections, a variety of local land use issues, and was on the Olympia Planning Commission.
She went on to work at the Dept. of Community Development until Governor Booth Gardner hired her to oversee the state's small agency cabinet in the Governor's Office. Barbara worked in the Governor's Office until she was appointed as the Director of the Dept. of Community Development (now the Dept. of Commerce) in 1992. Barbara retired in 1993 to travel and spend time with Don due to his health condition.
Barbara spent the majority of the next eight years caring for her husband, Don. After Don's death in 2001, Barbara continued her local activism, enjoyed the company of her many friends, had great discussions in her book clubs and spent precious time with her children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter. In 2017, Barbara relocated to Burien where she lived until shortly before her death.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Bea White, husband Don Gooding, brothers Bill and Michael White and sister Susan Luthy and sons-in-law Jim Dinan and Igor Vern. She is survived by daughters, Paula Gooding (Alec Carlin), Tracy Dinan-Gooding, Alison Gooding (Nick Jahn), and Lynn Gooding (Matt Zuvich); grandchildren Meg Gooding, Roman Vern, Quinn Carlin, and Luc Carlin; great-granddaughter Violet Hunter; sister Margaret Lakman and brother John White (Sonja); cousins Tom White, Mary Jo Wangen, and Pat White; and numerous nieces and nephews and friends.
Burial will be at Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham, WA. Due to current conditions, a memorial will be held at a later date. The family suggests donations be made in Barbara's name to the Education Fund - League of Women Voters of Thurston County (lwvthurston.org) or the International Falls Education Fund (fallseducationfoundation.com)