Barbara Newell Lindberg

1922 - 2018

Barbara Newell Lindberg Barbara Ann Newell Lindberg was born Aug. 11, 1922, in San Francisco, daughter of Minton & Grace Newell, both of Irish heritage, & passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, Nov. 2, 2018. Barbara attended Castilleja School, Palo Alto CA, Piedmont HS, Piedmont CA & the University of CA, Berkeley CA where she earned a B.A. in History & 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 yrs. Leading up to & during World War Il, Barbara & Bill lived in Nashville TN & 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, & their son, Bill, were born. Barbara & Bill then moved to Lafayette, CA, so Bill could pursue a sales career in San Francisco & Barbara settled in as a wife, mother & community volunteer. They family was delighted to return to their roots & become reacquainted with their many high school & college friends. During this period their youngest child, Isabel was born. Following another career opportunity, Barbara & her family returned to Lakewood WA. In addition to being a wife & mother, Barbara was a committed & effective community volunteer. She participated in & 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 & the Tacoma Country & Golf Club. In 1978 Barbara became a single woman & 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 AZ, camping with her much younger classmates. She travelled to every continent in the world except the North & South Poles. Her collection of art & artifacts from her foreign adventures is wonderful. As a mother & 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 & her support & encouragement of education & career ambitions. She was a feisty gal with a wicked sense of humor & 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 & art museums too numerous to mention. Barbara is survived by her daughter, Martha Lindberg, grandson Geoff Moller & great grandson, Luke Moller, grandson, Jeremy Moller & granddaughter Katherine Akyuz & great grandchildren Alexandra, & Atom Akyuz. Son, Bill Lindberg & granddaughter Courtney Lindberg; daughter Isabel Lindberg Campbell (Michael) & granddaughter Mellissa Andrews (Jim) & great grandchildren Braxton, Grace & Bailey Andrews & grandson Sam Houston (Mariesa) & step granddaughter, Shannan Campbell. In addition, she is survived by her beloved niece & nephews, Anne Callahan (Jim), Peter & Dona Newell, & Minton & Manisse Newell. We are profoundly grateful to her companion & caregiver Barbara Kaapana for 14 years of total devotion to our Mother. & to caregivers, Margaret Cragin, Anne Muigai, & Sabina Stewart. They made the last years of her life bearable, & 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.