August 7, 1931 – March 4, 2021
Don’t think of her as gone away, her journey’s just begun…life holds so many facets the earth is only one.
Think how she must be wishing that we could know today, how nothing but our sadness can really pass away.
And think of her as living in the hearts of those she touched, for nothing loved is ever lost and she was loved so much.
She left us suddenly on the 4th of March, 2021. She was at home with two of her children.
Barbara was a proud native of Western Nebraska, born in McCook, Nebraska on August 7, 1931, the eldest child of Frances E. and Greta Bates.
She was raised in Benkelman, Nebraska and known for being a bookworm, her studies showed as she was valedictorian of her high school class.
She was well known as a voracious reader, known to read 5-7 books a week, even up to her last day.
Barbara always knew the locations and details of libraries, bookstores, and book clubs wherever she was.
She married Wilson (Bill) V. Edwards, on the 15th of August 1959, at the Ent Air Force Base chapel, now the location of the U.S. Olympic training center. They were commonly known as Bill and Barb. They traveled the world due to his career and her interests. They lived in France, Germany, California, Oregon, Washington, and finally settled back again in “the Springs” in 1968.
In Colorado Springs during her career as civil servant to the United States Military, she worked at; Ent Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base, NORAD, the United States Air Force Academy, Chidlaw, (NORAD headquarters), and Fort Carson.
Barbara was an Honorary member of the Royal Canadian Air Force 971st Wing due to her constant contact and many close friendships with the Colorado Springs RCAF group.
She is survived by her sister, Francine Pieper; daughter, Dawn; 3 sons, Gary, Dan and Steven; 8 grandchildren, Blake, Tyler, Brooke, Garrett, Alexander, Andrew, Ethan, Evan; and 2 great grandchildren.
Beloved by family and friends, she was known by them for her caring vivacious personality, wit, style and spunk. As one of her nieces said, “she was always FUN and made everyone feel special.”
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2021 followed immediately by inurnment at the Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd., Colorado Springs.