Barbara A Case

July 21, 1926 – Oct. 19, 2019

Let Go, Let God. Barbara Anne Case recited these words often and believed them with

all her heart. On Saturday, Oct. 19, our beloved mother of four, grandmother of nine, and great

grandmother of six, died peacefully while asleep. There is great comfort in knowing her

children were with her; and that she is with Jesus, and husband Howard, “Casey”, the love of

her life for 44 years, who proceeded her in death in 1994.

When asked about her proudest achievement, Mom would say it was that her children - Amy

Pack (Keith), Leslie Drake (Brian), David Case (Renee), Allison Crisp (Dan) – have been married

once, to the loves of their lives – for a combined total of 148 years.

Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Mom was raised by loving parents, Dorothy and Granville

Turner. Her only sibling, Marylee Whirrett, died in 2009. Mom’s love and compassion for

people led her to volunteer for the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII. She went on to earn

a nursing degree from Temple University. In 1950, Mom agreed to a blind date with Casey, a

handsome electrical engineer from Colorado. After a few months, they married and moved to

Seattle. A year later, they moved to California and started a family. Mom put her nursing

career on hold to raise their four children. During the next 20 years, Casey’s career would mean

8 family moves across the U.S., before settling in Visalia. Mom loved young people. She opened

her home to our friends and hosted four exchange students. She cared for hundreds of local

children as a school nurse with Visalia Unified. Mom touched everyone she met with an

engaging sense of humor and thoughtfulness. She enjoyed games, with bridge her passion, for

which she won multiple awards. Her love of Big Band sounds and Broadway musicals took her

to many theater productions. She went to the beach often, where she watched the waves and

searched for sea otters. Her faith and strength were inspirational, and never more tested than

with the onset of colon cancer in 1981; and being suddenly widowed at age 68. In retirement,

Mom travelled the country and abroad. She was a regular at the Visalia United Methodist

Church and was active in the senior ministry there.

Mom was captivated by hummingbirds as they hovered over her feeders. It is said that

hummingbirds represent living a life filled with joy, light, and sweetness. And so it was with our

mom, Barbara Case.

Special thanks to Quail Park Memory Center staff, and Vivian at Visiting Angels, for their

long-term love and care; and to Sojourn Hospice for their quick response and professionalism.

A Celebration of Life open house will be held at Visalia United Methodist Church, Saturday,

Dec. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Visalia United Methodist Church.