Obituary of Guthrie, Barbara Anne

Barbara Anne Guthrie, 83, of Farmers Branch, TX passed away at her home on Saturday, November 30, 2013. Barbara was born Barbara Anne Bradford on July 1, 1930 in Lima, Ohio, and spent her childhood and early adulthood in Newark, Ohio, where she met and married her husband, Walker Dempsey Guthrie. The newlyweds moved to Texas in 1955. Barbara is survived by her daughter, Diana Lou Guthrie of Farmers Branch, and Walker D. Guthrie of Austin, TX, her sister, Anna Lou Pasco of Newark Ohio, and Eugene Wesley Bradford also of Newark, Ohio. Her husband, Walker Dempsey Guthrie, passed in 1979. Barbara is also survived by two grandchildren, Cameron Walker Guthrie and Caitlin Brooke Guthrie, in Austin, TX, and many nieces and nephews spread throughout Ohio, California and North Carolina.  During her early career in Ohio, Barbara worked as a proofreader and then as secretary to the Circulation Manager for the Newark Advocate in her hometown of Newark, Ohio. In Texas, she had various career positions performing administrative, stenography and other clerical responsibilities in the Dallas area. Barbara remained in Farmers Branch after the passing of her husband Dempsey. She became certified in shorthand, stenography, and as a notary public. Her hobbies included piano and keyboard lessons, dancing and home decorating. In retirement, Barbara volunteered for 18 years at the Farmers Branch Senior Citizens Center and Carrolton Senior Citizens Center.  She dearly loved teaching line dancing and participating in line dance performances at various local community centers, and wanted especially to be remembered to the wonderful “ladies” of her line dancing classes  Barbara was a strong person in life, and will be remembered by her son and daughter, her friends, and her family as an elegant and fun-loving lady who was capable of weathering any storm. She is greatly loved and will be missed deeply.  Barbara was comforted during her recent illness by the words of the spiritual poet, Kahlil Gibran, who wrote of life and death:

 “And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides,

That it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then you shall truly dance.”

 

Dance, Barbara, dance! We love you dearly!