Barbara M Craft

Barbara Marilyn Craft was born on March 21st, 1934 on a farm in Mineral Springs, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of 8 children born during the depression. Things were very hard. She was a beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed child and was adorable. When she was 2 years old, the family moved to Clearfield Pennsylvania, with Barbara going with her mother to Akron where she had relatives. Barbara was a very sick child and got pneumonia and the measles at a very young age. She lived in Akron until the age of 13 when her mother moved to California and she returned to her Dad’s home in Akron. Her dad bought her nice clothes but was very strict with her because she was so beautiful. When she was 15, her mother asked her to come to California and she was enrolled in Hollywood High School. At the age of 17, she had graduated high school and was a beautiful young lady. Her sister Maxine was working for a real estate company called Starboard and she had just recently married and wanted to stay home and raise a family. Maxine’s boss asked if she knew anyone who could take her place and she introduced her 17 year-old sister Barbara. They hired her on the spot. Maxine stayed and trained her for a couple weeks and they absolutely fell in love with her. She became a Real Estate Assistant and Executive Assistant to the owner of the company and they taught her everything about building, architecture, and real estate. While she worked at Starboard she was dancing at the USO. She was a star dancer, she was hot! She won dance contests over and over. She met a marine, and shortly after they married. After three years the marriage dissolved. After working for Starboard for 14 years, she was introduced to JH Snyder, one of the biggest builders and architects in Beverly Hills. She was hired immediately and became Executive Assistant for the owner of the company and became a valuable asset. They helped her invest her money profitably to where she could live a comfortable life. She worked there for 37 years and then retired.

She lived all of those years in Santa Monica and remained there until her health became too difficult for her to live alone. She then came to live with Maxine in Las Vegas for her remaining years. She loved fine dining, margaritas by the pool, our fashion shows, and us singing gospel campfire songs. Barbara had no children but she loved and cared for all of her sibling’s children as her own. She loved watching her nieces and nephews grow up. She was a very loving and generous Sister, Aunt and Friend. She will surely be loved and missed by everyone who knew her and she will remain in our hearts and our treasured memories forever. Rest in Peace Auntie.