Barbara was born in Redlands, California, to Jearl and Barbara Echols. The U.S. Navy moved the family, which included her younger sister Rebecca, to many places, including Maine, New Zealand, Philadelphia, and back to California. The longest she ever lived in one location as a child was the 3 years she spent in high school in Christchurch, New Zealand. She then spent her senior year at McLane High School in Fresno, California, while living with her aunt.
After high school graduation, she returned to New Zealand, where she worked on her father’s farm and as a lab assistant before studying to become a practical nurse. She married the love of her life, Roger Ross-Smith, a farmer, on April 23, 1967, and added three sisters (Judith Harrington (Bill), Marie McLennan (Ross), and Beverly McCombs (Peter)) and their families, as well as parents-in-law Leonard and Vera, to her family. Over the next 12 years, Roger and Barbara had four children and she made one final international move - this time to Bakersfield.
Soon after moving to Bakersfield in 1979, Roger and Barbara joined All Saints Episcopal (Anglican) Church, where they have been members ever since.
In addition to raising an active family, Barbara worked at Robinsons-May department store, went back to school and earned an AA degree from Bakersfield College, and then became a social worker, where she dedicated her time to helping many local people in need.
She is survived by her sister Rebecca Thomson (Alan), her husband Roger, her children (Dean Ross-Smith (Debbie), Toni Williams (Michael), David Ross-Smith (Tahnee), and Claire Waldron)), grandchildren (Taylor Doucette (Gabriel), Makenzie McDonald (Michael), Callie Ross-Smith (Eric Arszelewski), and Alec Ross-Smith; Jack, Chelsea, and Luke Williams; Darci, Jake, Sean, and Lyla Ross-Smith; and Nathaniel Waldron), and great-grandchildren (Charlotte and Memphis Doucette, and Rowan and Josephine McDonald). She will also be missed by her many cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her grandson Alex.
Barbara's family would like to thank the members of Roger and Barbara's church family at All Saints. They would also like to thank the wonderful staff at the Alzheimer's Disease Association of Kern County (ADAKC) for the care and support in 2021 and 2022.
Barbara’s burial will be at Greenlawn Southwest at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 24.
A memorial service will follow at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m.