Barbara Boulton Laughlin

Barbara Camille Boulton was born on September 8th, 1926, in San Francisco, the only child of Ethel and Roger Boulton. The family lived in Berkeley for the first few years of Barbara’s life, then moved to Palo Alto, purchasing a home in what is now called “Professorville,” and only a few blocks from the famous garage where Bill Hewlett and David Packard began the computer age.

Barbara attended school in Palo Alto, graduating from Palo Alto High School (Paly High) in 1944. She went on to UC Berkeley, earning a BA in History and then a California Teaching Credential. She began to teach 3rd and 4th grades in Piedmont at Wildwood School. She also began to sing in the Chancel Choir of the First Methodist Church in Palo Alto, where she met Gerald Laughlin, who also was attending UC Berkeley, having had his college career postponed by his service in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. They married in June of 1954. Barbara continued to teach during the first years of their marriage. They welcomed their first child, Sandra, in 1955, and shortly thereafter, when Jerry had earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering, the family moved to Palo Alto. Their son Kent joined the family in 1959. After the move to Palo Alto, Barbara retired from teaching to be a full-time mom, and she devoted her time to volunteer activities associated with their church – now the First United Methodist Church - and with the same great choir.

While Sandy and Kent were in school, Barbara was an active volunteer with church activities, a regular polling place volunteer, and a member of PEO, a sorority dedicated to supporting education for women. She was an accomplished seamstress and a fabulous knitter, creating amazing clothing for her children and later for her grandchildren. And she and Jerry continued to sing in the church choir, including Thursday night rehearsals and Sunday services. Barbara was also a wonderful pianist; she practiced regularly – much to the enjoyment of their family dog, who came to sit under the piano and sing along when Barbara played. She entertained friends with her beautiful playing and accompanied small groups of singers in their home on many occasions.

In 1977, to everyone’s surprise (including perhaps their own,) Barbara and Jerry decided to move from Palo Alto to Seattle, selling their home and buying a new house overlooking Lake Washington. After a short stint with a small medical instrument manufacturer, Jerry went to work at Boeing, and he and Barbara built a new life in the Pacific Northwest. They joined the University Methodist Temple; it had the best choir of course, and they also began to sing in the Seattle Symphony Chorus. Barbara continued to support PEO, and then later joined the Women’s University Club, participating enthusiastically in many of their educational and cultural activities.

In 2006, they decided their tri-level home was no longer right for them and they moved into an apartment in Horizon House, which opened doors to a whole new world of friends and activities. Jerry passed away in 2008 and Barbara continued to be active at Horizon House, working as the “card lady” for the Monday Market, and spending many happy hours with the jigsaw puzzles in the puzzle room. Barbara also loved visiting with her children and grandchildren, both Kent’s family in Washington and Sandy’s family in California. Her entire family gathered to celebrate her 98th birthday this past fall, and Barbara was able to visit with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Barbara passed away on January 3rd in her home at Horizon House with her family nearby throughout her final days.