Barbara Chatelain

Barbara J. Chatelain, age 88, formerly of Annandale, VA, passed away on April 28, 2023 in Springfield, VA. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Fred Chatelain, who died on April 12, 2023. Barbara and Fred would’ve celebrated 66 years of marriage this July.

Barbara was born in Pana, IL, the only daughter of the late Harry and Mary McDermith. Through her childhood, Barbara lived with her parents in Illinois, Virginia, Wyoming and Colorado, following her father’s work as a cartographer and civil engineer with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Upon graduation from North Side High School in Denver CO, Barbara attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg VA, and earned her degree in Physical Therapy from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond VA.

After marrying Fred in1957, Barbara and their firstborn son Ron lived with her parents in Arlington while Fred was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army. Upon his return, they moved to Austin, TX for Fred to complete his pharmacy studies. During this time, Barbara worked as a physical therapist, and they had their second son, Todd. In 1962 they relocated to Northern Virginia, and completed their family with a third son, Scott and a daughter, Julia. They raised their family in Annandale, VA. Barbara worked as a physical therapist at Potomac Hospital and then for many years at INOVA Alexandria Hospital until her retirement.

Barbara was committed to community service in retirement; driving seniors to doctor appointments as a volunteer with Shepherd’s Center of Annandale-Springfield; doing Meals-On-Wheels deliveries; providing volunteer support within the Fairfax County Juvenile Court System; and working as an information desk greeter at Alexandria Hospital.

She was a longtime parishioner of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, spending many Sundays setting up coffee after services, helping in the nursery, coordinating church bazaars and serving as needed.

Through the years, Barbara and Fred traveled extensively, visiting family in Illinois and Texas, taking their children on cross-county trips, and spending time at their beach house in the Outer Banks. They took annual cruises throughout the world. She often accompanied Fred to his annual pharmacy conventions which allowed her to explore major cities and go sightseeing across the United States. Barbara was an avid reader. She also loved a good slot machine, and always had quarters at the ready.

Barbara cared for her aging parents until their deaths, her father at age 89 in 1998 and her mother at age 101 in 2009.

She is survived by her sons Ron (Margarita) Chatelain, Todd (Patty Wood) Chatelain and Scott (MaryBeth) Chatelain, and daughter Julia Chatelain King. “Nana” loved being a grandmother and is survived by her grandchildren Andrew, Matthew and Emily Chatelain, Carla (Brian) Callihan, Laila (Chad) Habeeb, and Caitlin and Adam King; great grandchildren Tommy and Charley Bosley, and Stevie Habeeb, and cousins.

A funeral service is scheduled Thursday, May 4, 2023 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at St. Albans Episcopal Church, 6800 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003. Family and friends are invited to a reception at St. Albans after the service, with interment to follow at 3 PM at National Cemetery, Falls Church, VA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shepherd Center Annandale which provides services to seniors in the Springfield community (https://shepherdscenter-annandale.org/donate), or to St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Annandale, VA. ·