Obituary - Barbara Aldrich, 86

Barbara Belle Bailey Aldrich, 86, died March 13, 2003, at her home in Eads. Barbara was born July 12, 1916 at the family home south of Towner.

Barbara was the oldest daughter of Carl and Avy Kelley Bailey. She spent her early years on the Bailey Farm. Barbara attended school for 12 years at Towner, graduating in 1933. She was an active 4-H and Methodist youth group member.

Barbara married the love of her life, Don E. Aldrich, March 10, 1934. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary before Barbara lost her life long partner in 1989. Over their 54 years and 11 months of marriage they lived in several different homes. First in their "honeymoon cottage" in Towner. The majority of their married years were spent in Eads, Colorado, where they raised their seven daughters and one son.

Farming and family were synonymous for the Aldrich’s and Barbara was always a help-mate and contributor whether it be running the tractor, bringing lunch to the fields, traveling to pick up new parts for broken machinery, or just having a hot meal on the table when Don came in exhausted after dark. Our Mother was an excellent cook and all gatherings were centered in our home with Barbara’s wonderful food and hospitality.

As all Mothers know, and it is true, a Mother’s work is never done and our Mother was no exception. She always found time to help with home work, plan a graduation party, chair a Methodist Women’s group fund raiser, drive a car load of kids to a band contest, or bake for a class fund raiser and do 42 loads of laundry a week plus start a new project. Our home was always open to the friends each of us brought home on the spur of the moment for lunch, dinner or to stay the night.

Barbara was a Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother for all times. She was as comfortable making a prom dress as she was putting together a World Series baseball pool for the neighborhood. There was never a project too overwhelming for Barbara and her dear sister Vi, they could paint and wall paper a room in a day.

After the last of their children graduated from Eads, Don and Barbara moved to Denver to try a new role. They eventually moved to a retirement village in Fort Collins. During all these years Barbara kept up her sewing and craft projects and kept tabs on each and every family member. She knew which grandchild was wrestling, which one was traveling with their band or choir, which one needed information for a Civil Project, which grandchild was expecting a new baby, and which family would need a new Christmas stocking for a new little one or which one just needed a special word of encouragement.

She had such a wide range of interests; there wasn’t anyone she could not have an interesting conversation with. She kept all the win/loss records of her favorite football, baseball and hockey teams and then current status of players and what teams recruited them. She made it her business to know the interest of her dear son-in-laws from railroading to cars to fishing to politics. She was a Renaissance woman before the word became popular.

Our Mother left this world with the sharp witty mind that we all came to love and enjoy. Her enjoyment of games, Upwords especially, endeared her to all the family game lovers.

Our Mother will be missed by many. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Aldrich, her parents Avy and Carl Bailey, one brother, Leeman Bailey, and two grandsons, Len and Tim Greenwell.

Barbara Aldrich is survived and sadly missed by her daughters, Joyce (Jack) Moody of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Donna Friedman of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Beverly Capps, of Fort Collins, Barbara (Keith) Uhland, Eads, Sandra (George) Mihich, of Falling Waters, West Virginia, Cynthia (Don) Smith, of Fort Collins, Pamela (Ron) Weinzapfel, Dallas, Texas, and Don (Bernice) Aldrich, Eads. She is also survived by her one sister, Viola Koch, Eads, 23 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren, numerous, nieces and nephews, two sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law.

A memorial service was held March 18, 2003, at the Methodist Church in Eads. Rev. Gary Goettel officiated the services. Philomene Liesen was the pianist and Monica Uhland was the vocalist for the service. The musical selections were "My Prayer", "The Old Rugged Cross," "How Great Thou Art," "Whispering Hope" and "Holes in the Floor of Heaven." Following the services, the family gathered for a time of remembrance and a meal together.

In her memory contributions may be made to Kiowa County Home Health the American Diabetes Association or any charity of your choosing. Brown Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.