Barbara and I worked side by side in Heidelberg and became fast friends.  Besides her great talent as a public affairs professional, she was a fun  and loyal friend.  We had great times, Volksmarching, having  many fun times hanging in my apartment and of course the great Gasthouses in the area.  

Barbara was an extremely talented, thoughtful and kind friend; a most capable public affairs officer and planner, quick and insightful, an unsung hero of the Army's public affairs team in Europe.   A most loyal friend, from our days in one of the last Advanced PA courses at the University of Wisconsin in 1979, with the late Jim Boyle and the future CPA, MG Bill McClain, to constant support for the civilian career program throughout the professional development wars, it was a joy to know and serve with her.  Millie and Barbara have said it better than I for they and Barbara were the cogs of the great Army civilian team in Europe that covered and handled so well the major news emanating there...and occupy a lofty place in my footlocker of memories.  Requiscat in pace.

Barbara was one of the most respected US Army Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) in the business--ever.  Her no-nonsense approach to business & life made her the epitome of what PAOs are supposed to be.  Her loyalty, devotion, conscientiousness & direct manner exemplified the old Army PAO tenant 'to provide timely, objective information to engender public support & understanding for the US Army.'  She did not work at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) which is in Mons, Belgium.  She was the 7th Medical Command Headquarters PAO in Heidelberg, GE, and as such, handled countless sensitive media inquiries from PTSD to the condition of newsworthy individual patients.  For years, she was a key player in the rapid formation of large multi-service press centers at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, west of Kaiserslautern, GE, when incidents occurred that drew hundreds of international media, such as the release of US hostages, evacuation of Embassy personnel & more.  Landstuhl was the first stop for medical attention & evaluation before such high-profile patients were flown back to the US.   Barbara's integrity as a knowledgeable source for thoroughly coordinated, cleared, factual information put her on a first-name basis with correspondents from CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, the Associated Press,  Reuters, the French wire service & German national & regional outlets. There was no crises she couldn't handle in her inimitable, unflappable style.  Over the objections of generals for her to stay in Germany, she opted to leave her high-vis, demanding post to return to the US to be an ocean closer to her aging Mom. I imagine the Pine Bluff Arsenal leadership & staff never knew whom they really had in their midst. Fortunately for them, they never had an incident that required her REAL PAO talents.  Her retirement from there was truly the denouement of a stunning career.  Colleague, artist, gourmet, avid walker & friend... that was our Barbara. Millie Waters-Heidelberg, GE 

Barbara Allen Slifer was a talented writer and photographer -- the epitome of a topnotch journalist.  She was the Editor of several award-winning military newspapers during her career.  She was one of the smartest and most talented people I have ever known.  She could work the most complicated crossword puzzles with the greatest of ease because she loved words and had an unlimited vocabulary.  Barbara was also an accomplished artist, who could also mat and frame her art.   Barbara had a great sense of humor and a really dry wit.  She will be missed by the many people who loved and admired her, and I am one of those people.  She called me “the Other Barbara.”  Barbara O’Neal

OBITUARY

Barbara Allen Slifer

September 7, 1949 – December 6, 2021

Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park

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