Barbara Edith Orth

BARBARA EDITH ORTH passed into the presence of God at 4:02 AM, Saturday July 8th in Arlington, Texas. She was 92. We carry her in our hearts and sense her constant delight and love as always—down to our bones.

Barbara was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1931 to Raymond and Lois Judd. Within the year, her family moved to New Orleans. At 12 years old she and her family moved to Dallas. Barbara majored in fashion and costume design at Texas Women’s University. In 1951, close to finishing her degree, she married her high school sweetheart, Stanford Orth. Watching their 72 years of love and care for each other, and their faith in Christ were their greatest gifts to us.

Stan and Barbara were lifelong Christian missionaries to Guatemala. In 1963 they spent a year in Costa Rica learning Spanish, then a year assisting churches on the Pacific coast near Escuintla, Guatemala, settling finally in Guatemala City at SETECA, where Stan taught New Testament and Barbara used her many gifts of hospitality, event planning, and spiritual mentoring. Perhaps chief among her efforts was the development of a network of Bible study groups for women who had never studied Scripture on their own. She had a tremendous impact on women's lives, pointing them to life in Christ through her teaching and friendship. Since childhood Barbara loved to draw and paint. She sprinkled her love of color, nature, and design over everything around us (https://online.fliphtml5.com/ylnln/hzwe/#p=1). Her instinct was to make everything a celebration. “Let’s make it a party!” or “Don’t you just love this!” came out in her words and life. She loved asparagus and put horseradish on just about anything.

Barbara survived her younger brother Kenneth and sister Carolyn. She is survived today by her husband, Stan Orth; her children, David, Duane, Dale, and Jenny; her 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

As a family we will have a private graveside gathering and lunch. We have so appreciated the many kind messages and memories shared.