Barbara Haworth Clendenin

Babs was born in San Angelo, Texas in 1930 and shortly after moved to Houston, Texas where she attended Lamar High School. In 1948 she attended the University of Texas in Austin, graduating in 1952 with a BA in Plan II Studies. During her time at UT, she was extremely active, as a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Orange Jackets, Spooks, Goodfellows, Student Court, and the Reagan Literary Society. After graduation, Babs moved back to Houston.

In 1953, she married her middle school crush, Thomas Rankin Clendenin, Jr. Babs and Tom moved back to Austin while Tom attended law school, graduating in 1960. During that time in Austin, Babs gave birth to two children -- Jan Leigh Clendenin and Craig Haworth Clendenin.

The family moved to Brownsville, Texas in 1960 where Babs taught various subjects at Brownsville High School, Villa Maria High School, Episcopal Day School, and Homer Hanna High School. Babs also obtained a Masters in Counseling, a Masters in History, and a Teaching Certificate. She also served as a professor at Texas Southmost College after obtaining a certification as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor.

In 1994, Babs retired and moved back to her beloved Austin where she focused the majority of her attention on St. Matthews Episcopal Church and the Texas Longhorn football team. For years , she also served as a volunteer docent at the Bob Bullock Texas State Historical Museum. Babs was very active with her “church family” at St. Matthews, serving in several different roles. She also prided herself in being on a “first name” basis with most of the Longhorn football players through the years (though none of the football players knew that [or her]).

Babs is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Tom; her daughter Jan; and her sister Sara Haworth Dayhoff.

She is survived by her son and his wife Vicki; her granddaughter Kirsten Leigh Clendenin; her great granddaughter Marlowe Florence Clendenin; step-granddaughter Erin Zalesak and husband John-Erik Zalesak, and step-great grandchild John Dawson Zalesak, as well as her St. Matthews Episcopal Church family. A memorial service celebrating Babs’ life will take place at St. Matthew’s, 8134 Mesa Drive, Austin, Texas at 2:00 p.m. on February 15, 2025 with a reception at the church to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations either be made to the Tom Clendenin Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Texas Law school assisting married students with children, St. Matthews Episcopal Church, or Hospice Austin – The Christopher House, who took such loving and exceptional care of Babs in her final days.