Barbara Ring Kotowski

Barbara Ring Kotowski, longtime El Paso resident, died on November 26, 2017, from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Born in Chicago on November 9, 1934, to Raymond Henry Ring and Ruth Fitzgibbons Ring, Barbara is survived by her husband of 55 years, John Kotowski; her children, Catherine (Warren Scherffius) and Michael (Diana Orrantia); her brothers, Ray Ring (Linda) and Mike Ring (Jackie); and her grandchildren, Matthew Ramos, Olivia Orrantia-Kotowski, and Michaela Orrantia-Kotowski; as well as a host of friends whose lives she touched by her generous and compassionate spirit. Barbara graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1951, received a BS in Home Economics from the University of Arizona in 1956, and became a stewardess for Transocean Airlines, where she developed a passion for travel. After joining the USO and marrying John in Germany in 1962, the couple honeymooned in Italy, which ignited Barbara’s lifelong love for all things Italian—the language, cuisine, countryside, and opera. The couple was stationed in El Paso, making it their permanent home after John’s retirement from the US Army in 1979. Using her experience as a realtor, Barbara customized the design of the family’s home of the past 45 years. During that time, Barbara earned an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso, where she eventually taught World Religions. From El Paso Community College, she received the Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award in 1995. Barbara liked to reflect on three “somethings” each day: something funny, something beautiful, and something new. She dearly loved calico cats, the color turquoise, Scandinavian mystery novels, the singing of Luciano Pavarotti, the movies of Roy Rogers and Federico Fellini, and—most of all—her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Red Cross or the American Lung Association. “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” Services entrusted to Martin East www.funerariasdelangel.com/martin-east