Barbara Carol Roth

Born in Houston, Texas on August 3, 1946, Barbara grew up in the Houston area. During her lifetime, she would also call Amarillo, Dallas and Austin home.

On February 9, 1963, Barbara and Charles Roth were married. They shared a wonderful, happy marriage, full of love and mutual respect. Their marriage lasted over 62 years and has a legacy of two children, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and hope for more to come.

Barbara's priorities in life were to live in a way pleasing to the Lord and to care for her family. Her life was guided by strong Christian values and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church. Barbara loved being a mother and a homemaker and she excelled in doing the things associated with those roles. She was a dedicated guide and teacher for her daughters, a fantastic cook, and an accomplished seamstress.

Her favorite sport was tennis. She liked watching tennis professionals play, and she was a formidable opponent on the tennis court. She served as President of the MET Ladies Tennis Association in Houston, and played on one of its teams as well as playing on her neighborhood ladies tennis team.

She enjoyed listening to music, especially contemporary Christian music of the eighties and nineties. In addition to sewing, her hobbies included knitting, needlepoint and macrame.

She was a graduate of John H. Reagan High School in Houston. After graduation, Barbara was employed as an administrative assistant until the birth of her first daughter in 1967. Thereafter, she became a full-time homemaker, with time off to play in the ladies tennis leagues.

In 1980, the family moved to Amarillo, which was home for the next nine years. Barbara continued her homemaker role and guided her daughters through completion of primary and secondary education, and admission to The University of Texas at Austin. She volunteered for work on projects at West Texas State University as well as volunteering for work on presidential and congressional political campaigns. Sadly, her tennis play ended after suffering a back injury in a skiing accident. She began devoting more time to formal Bible study.

In 1989, Barbara and Charles moved to Dallas, and that was home for the next seven years. By then, they were empty nesters and Barbara had more time for volunteer work. Her efforts were primarily focused on fundraising for social services organizations. And she continued to devote time to Bible study. This was also the time for planning and celebrating the college graduations of both daughters and their marriages.

In 1997, Charles retired, and it was time to decide where they would live in retirement. There were young grandchildren in Austin. Barbara decided they would live there. They moved to Austin and enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren, celebrating their achievements, and watching them grow up. Retirement provided Barbara and Charles with more time to do things together. After living in a high-rise condominium in Dallas, they enjoyed getting back to tending a yard and garden. They volunteered at church. They participated in co-ed Bible study as students and leaders; and traveled extensively in Israel and other Middle Eastern areas with significant Biblical history. And they took ocean and river cruises, guided tours and did independent travel. Barbara loved seeing the beauty and wonder of God’s Creation and she favored small ship cruising in the coastal waters of Alaska, and sightseeing in the national parks of the western USA and Canada.

Barbara is survived by her husband Charles, her daughters Deborah Pruitt (David, Sr.) and Suzanne Weaver (Keith), her grandchildren David Pruitt, Jr. (Claire), C. Parker Pruitt (Alessandra), Catherine Pruitt, and Clayton Pruitt, and her great-grandchildren Paxton and Blaise Pruitt. Also, her sister Kathleen Spencer, as well as her sisters and brothers–in-law and her nieces and nephews.

Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.

Visitation will be held on August 5, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home and Cemetery, 13102 North Freeway, Houston, Texas 77060 prior to the service at 11:30 AM at the same location. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church, 3701 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin, Texas 78749, or a charity of your choice.