Barbara Griffith Freeman

Barbara Griffith Freeman was born to Roberta and Russell Griffith on December 8, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois and died March 13, 2022 in Pacific Grove, California. After her parents moved their family to California, Barbara attended Piedmont High School and later graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Biology. She was married to Richard Myron Freeman for over 60 years before his passing in 2020. The Freemans lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, San Antonio, Texas, Iowa City, Iowa (twice!) and Nashville, Tennessee before returning to live in Fresno, California. They then retired to Pacific Grove, where they lived for over 20 years.

Barbara loved learning and went on to study multiple languages as well as earning a Master’s Degree in Library Science. In her free time, she enjoyed painting, ceramics, jogging, skiing, serving as an art museum docent, and birdwatching. If there was a sing-along, Barbara could be heard singing the high part. Barbara loved nature and sitting quietly outside with a cup of coffee and the occasional chocolate donut. Barbara was an active member and supporter of the churches she attended, including most recently St. Mary’s by-the-Sea in Pacific Grove.

Barbara worried more about others than about herself. In her later years, she would always ask her nurses and doctors about how they were doing, when they were taking care of her. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Barbara is survived by four children, Richard Griffith Freeman, Amy Lynn Freeman, Catherine Louise Gutjahr, and Anne Marie Freeman, and four grandchildren, Isaac Gutjahr, Jeremiah Gutjahr, Cash Barber and Max Barber and her brother, John Griffith.

A graveside burial will be held April 8, 2022 at 1pm at El Carmelo Cemetery, 68 Asilomar Blvd. followed by a reception at The Paul Mortuary, 390 Lighthouse Ave., both in Pacific Grove.