Jean Otterholt Barber

10/09/1923 — 07/02/2005

From Richland, WA, US | Born in Yakima, WA

Jean Otterholt Barber

Jean died July 2, 2005 at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, WA. She was born on October 9, 1923 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Yakima, WA to William Franklin Thomson son of Clemina and James Thomson and Helen Munsell Thomson daughter of Artie B. and Dr. William M. Munsell.

She grew up in Grandview, WA, attending primary and secondary school in Prosser. From there she took her first train ride to Eugene, OR where she received her B.S. degree from the University of Oregon. She then attended Oregon Health & Science University to attain her Registered Nurse degree in 1945.

After graduation she took a merchant marine ship to Hawaii under war time limitations, becoming a staff nurse at a Maui hospital. While in Hawaii, Jean met Dr. Ernest Donald Otterholt son of Clara L. and Edward Otterholt at a Navel base dance. After the war she became head nurse at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA. She married Ernie Otterholt on August 10, 1947 in Prosser, WA. They moved to International Falls, MN for one year, and then to Richland, WA where Ernie established his dental practice. They raised four children: Dr. Dana Eric Otterholt, Barry Lee Otterholt, Janelle Otterholt, and Dr. Randy Ellis Otterholt. Jean retained an active RN license, volunteered for a local hospice organization and worked as day manager at Richland Mental Health for several years. In 1991 Ernie passed away. Jean married Arthur Barber on March 15, 1997 in Richland, WA.

Jean was an extensive world traveler and was active in the Questers learning group in Richland. She enjoyed gourmet cooking, entertaining, playing bridge, knitting, genealogical research and gardening. Jean treasured the years with her many close friends in the Tri-Cities area and throughout the country.

Jean is survived by her four children Dana Otterholt, Barry Otterholt, Janelle Otterholt, Randy Otterholt; six grandchildren Leif Otterholt, Jorgen Otterholt, Kjersten Otterholt, Casey Otterholt, Kris Otterholt, Cody Otterholt; and seven stepchildren.

Service will be held at Richland Lutheran Church at eleven o’clock on Saturday, July 9th. This will be preceded by a private interment at the family plot in the Grandview Cemetery. Remembrances to Jean may be made to Tri-City Chaplaincy Hospice, 2108 W. Entiat Ave, Kennewick WA 99336.

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Jean Otterholt Barber

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  • Mom left this poem for her four children, knowing that someday we would be reading it, and would find comfort in it:

    To Those I Love

    If I should ever leave you whom I love

    To go along the Silent Way

    grieve not.

    Nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk

    Of me as if I were beside you there.

    I’d come

    I’d come, could I but find a way!

    But would not tears and grief be barriers?

    And when you hear a song or see a bird

    I loved, please do not let the thought of me

    be sad

    For I am loving you just as

    I always have

    You were so good to me!

    There are so many things I wanted still

    To do

    so many things to say to you

    Remember that I did not fear

    It was

    Just leaving you that was so hard to face.

    We cannot see Beyond

    But this I know:

    I loved you so

    ‘twas heaven here with you!

    ~ Isla Paschal Richardson

    Randy Otterholt
    November 4, 2014
    Spokane, WA, US
  • Randy, Barry and siblings,

    I am sorry to report that Donna & I have an appointment out of town tomorrow AM and will not be able to pass on a few words of comfort tomarrow. We will be thinking of you. Thanks for all the friendship over the years.

    Leo F. Kocher
    November 4, 2014
    Richland, WA, 99354, US
  • I was sorry to learn of Jean’s passing and extend my sympathies to the family. As a member of Questers, I looked forward to Jean’s papers, knowing that her topic would be well researched and I would always learn something from Jean. She was a wonderful lady. God bless, Donna

    Donna Cash
    November 4, 2014
    Richland, WA, US
  • To the Otterholt family,

    I was so sad to hear that your mother had passed away. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with her at the Mid-Columbia Mental Health Center years ago. I didn’t really know Jean personally until then. I only knew that she had exceptionally nice kids. When I did get the chance to work with her, I quickly grew to respect her vast knowledge and her confident manner in which she dealt with stressful situations. I always knew that when she was the nurse in charge on the In-Patient Unit, the patients were in good hands. Jean was professional in her demeanor, but yet exuded a genuine warmth and compassion that made her engaging and highly regarded by those she worked with. She was a great role model in a very unassuming way, and I am thankful she was a part of my life for that short period of time.

    My deepest sympathies to you all.

    Nancy

    Nancy J. Harville
    November 4, 2014
    Richland, WA, US
  • Mom left this poem for her four children, knowing that someday we would be reading it, and would find comfort in it:

    To Those I Love

    If I should ever leave you whom I love

    To go along the Silent Way

    grieve not.

    Nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk

    Of me as if I were beside you there.

    I’d come

    I’d come, could I but find a way!

    But would not tears and grief be barriers?

    And when you hear a song or see a bird

    I loved, please do not let the thought of me

    be sad

    For I am loving you just as

    I always have

    You were so good to me!

    There are so many things I wanted still

    To do

    so many things to say to you

    Remember that I did not fear

    It was

    Just leaving you that was so hard to face.

    We cannot see Beyond

    But this I know:

    I loved you so

    ‘twas heaven here with you!

    ~ Isla Paschal Richardson

    Randy Otterholt
    November 4, 2014
    Spokane, WA, US
  • Randy, Barry and siblings,

    I am sorry to report that Donna & I have an appointment out of town tomorrow AM and will not be able to pass on a few words of comfort tomarrow. We will be thinking of you. Thanks for all the friendship over the years.

    Leo F. Kocher
    November 4, 2014
    Richland, WA, 99354, US
  • I was sorry to learn of Jean’s passing and extend my sympathies to the family. As a member of Questers, I looked forward to Jean’s papers, knowing that her topic would be well researched and I would always learn something from Jean. She was a wonderful lady. God bless, Donna

    Donna Cash
    November 4, 2014
    Richland, WA, US
  • To the Otterholt family,

    I was so sad to hear that your mother had passed away. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with her at the Mid-Columbia Mental Health Center years ago. I didn’t really know Jean personally until then. I only knew that she had exceptionally nice kids. When I did get the chance to work with her, I quickly grew to respect her vast knowledge and her confident manner in which she dealt with stressful situations. I always knew that when she was the nurse in charge on the In-Patient Unit, the patients were in good hands. Jean was professional in her demeanor, but yet exuded a genuine warmth and compassion that made her engaging and highly regarded by those she worked with. She was a great role model in a very unassuming way, and I am thankful she was a part of my life for that short period of time.

    My deepest sympathies to you all.

    Nancy

    Nancy J. Harville
    November 4, 2014
    Richland, WA, US
  • Randy and siblings- your mom was the sweetest mom ever. She supported all of you, cared for and loved your families and friends, and was an amazing woman. I always looked up to her with such respect, and could feel the way that she would light up a room when she was in it, just because of her loving and accepting spirit. She was an instrumental part of my memories of growing up on Harris Street in Richland, and the memories of her and our lives at that time are very precious and treasured. Randy – I’m here for you always – your friend forever, Gina.

    Gina Perrin
    November 4, 2014
    Mission, Viejo, CA, US
  • Goodbye Jean, We shall think of you often. You were always a true lady in life and now an angel watching over the rest of us. Say hello to Ernie for us – We miss you both. God is lucky to have you……

    Leo&Donna Kocher
    November 4, 2014
    Richland, WA, US
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