Anderson, Barbara Ann Durbin (1936-2019)

ANDERSON, DURBIN, LAWRENCE, HANSON, METCALF, TAYLOR, DOCKWELL

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Boeke Funeral Home, Radcliffe, Iowa website/Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, March 4, 2019

Barbara Ann (Durbin) Anderson, 82, of Jewell, passed away on Tuesday, February 26th at her daughter’s home in Friendswood, Texas.

Barbara was born November 23, 1936 in Jewell, Iowa, to Charles H. Durbin, a railroad engineer, and Gertrude Lawrence, a homemaker. She was the youngest of 6 children, 3 of whom survived infancy.

She attended schools in Jewell and Sioux City, Iowa, graduating from Central High School in Sioux City in 1954. She attended the University of Iowa where she majored in Art. She graduated in 1958, having earned her Bachelor of Arts degree.

Barbara married Adrian Anderson on August 27, 1955 in Jewell. In the early years of their marriage she assisted Adrian with field and lab work on archaeological projects throughout the Great Plains and the Yucatan. Her participation in a 1956 field school may have been the first time a woman at the University of Iowa took part in the field-school program.

Throughout her lifetime, Barbara applied her artistic talents and education to a career as a graphic artist, museum exhibit designer, and scientific illustrator. She painted portraits of family and friends, and in her later years created unique modern gourd art.

Barbara was a member of PEO, an active campaigner and poll worker in the Hamilton County Democrats, and a long-time member of the Women’s Fellowship committee of the Jewell United Church of Christ where she served as treasurer for many years.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Adrian; her parents, Charles and Gertrude Durbin; parents-in-law Charles and Luella Anderson, two siblings, Kathleen Hanson and Harold Durbin; two brothers-in-law, Laverne Hanson and Duane Anderson, and a niece, Carol Anderson.

Barbara is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Metcalf and Meghan Taylor, two sons-in-law, Jordan Metcalf and Martin Taylor, and five grandchildren - Kennedy, Chandler, and Evan Metcalf, and Jack and Max Taylor. She is further survived by sisters-in-law Pamela, Virginia and Wilma Anderson, brothers-in-law Donald and Cecil Anderson, and several grand and great, grand nieces and nephews. Her family was her pride and joy and she took every opportunity to be with her daughters and their families in Texas and England.

Pallbearers will be sons-in-law Jordan Metcalf and Martin Taylor; Grandson Evan Metcalf; Nephews Greg and Kevin Hanson, and Kim Dockwell, husband of niece Linda (Hanson) Dockwell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Memorials the Jewell United Church of Christ, PO Box 447, Jewell, Iowa 50130.