Barbara Boatwright
January 10, 2012
Barbara Lee Boatwright, 87, died Tuesday, January 10, 2012. Services will be Saturday, January 14, 2012, at 11 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 3100 Easton Blvd. The family will greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street.
Barbara was born February 2, 1924, in Pittsburgh, PA, to Mary Lee (Barth) and Louis Lawrence "L.L." Moorman. She earned her MSW at the University of Pittsburgh, where she met and married Harry Frantz in 1948. They had two sons, Gary Dean and Steven Kirk. After Harry and Barbara's divorce, she continued to work for Iowa Children and Family Services in Des Moines, IA, and there she met Maynard Leo Boatwright. They wed August 6, 1960, and Barbara became stepmother to Maynard's three children: Dan Maynard, Michael Dean, and Cynthia May.
The family joined First Presbyterian Church, where Barbara served as youth group leader and a member of the session. Always working to make a meaningful difference in others' lives, she marketed goods of developing countries through the church to return more of the profits to the craftspeople. She also worked Thanksgiving and Christmas annual dinners served by the East Des Moines Cluster of Churches.
Barbara partnered with Larry Brubaker to form Clinical Counseling Services, and also worked at the Central Iowa Mental Health Institute. She taught courses at Grand View College and Drake University, and was an adjunct faculty member of the University of Iowa School of Social Work. She believed that to make positive social change, election to public office was key. She was especially proud of her three former graduate students who won seats in the Iowa legislature.
As president of Iowa Clinical Social Work Coalition, Barbara helped pass state licensure for social workers. She was active in PACE and in the League of Women Voters. She co-founded the Democratic Activist Women's Network (DAWN) in 1993 to elect Iowa women to the legislature.
Colleagues of Barbara honored her service. In 1999, she received the inaugural Barbara Boatwright Political Action Award, and in 2000 was named Social Worker of the Year by the NASW Iowa chapter. The YWCA awarded a Woman of Achievement award to her in 2002. NASW awarded the national and chapter Lifetime Achievement awards to Barbara in 2006. Barbara was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 2008.
Barbara hosted warm birthday and holiday celebrations attended by extended family and friends. She clowned in parades with the Elks Lodge 98. Barbara might laugh at this obituary looking back on her life: she always looked forward.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Maynard; her brothers, James (Brenda) Moorman and Buckner Moorman; her sons, Dan, Michael (Cindy), Gary, and Steven (Colleen) Boatwright; her daughter, Cynthia (Mark) Perkins; grandchildren, Jennifer (Chad) Peterson, Kevin (Chris) Mann, Jennifer (Pete) Kellis, Eric (Laura) Boatwright, Jennifer (Scott Cheskiewicz) Boatwright, Jodine (Aaron Loehrlein) Perkins, Tony (Amy) Perkins, Michael Boatwright, and Sara Boatwright; great-grandchildren, Alex and Ty Peterson, Peyton and Kamryn Kellis, Griffin and Katherine Mann, Casey and Kileigh Boatwright, and Eleanor Loehrlein. Barbara's parents and siblings, L. Lawrence Moorman, William Ross, and Betsy Bryant preceded her in death.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution to her church or DAWN is suggested.
Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Ferne G. Bonomi
01/14/2012
Barbara will live long in the memories of all those whom she guided toward a real turnaround in their lives. I saw this taking place in my own life and in the lives of clients when I worked under the same roof with her at the Iowa Children's Home society. I treasure those memories. An aside to Maynard: I am recalling some of the many things you did to enable her to have a good life. Blessings to you!
Debora Hudson
01/14/2012
Thank you for being you and all that yoy've done/shared and especially to your family and friends for sharing you with us : ) Sincerely, Debora Hudson Des Moines Ia.
Gary speck
01/14/2012
Maynard and kids i was so sorry to hear about barbs passing just found out this morning,we would have been there had we know,she was a nice person we will miss her,you have our love,Gary and family
Robert and Mary Jane Blair
01/14/2012
Barbara is of blessed memory to so many and changed lives is was a honor to know her.
Dick and Karen Shaffer
01/13/2012
Maynard and Family,
We were so sorry to hear of Barbara's death. We knew she was having a battle, but didn't realize she was so ill.
What a really neat lady she was, we will miss our "once a year" coffees to catch up on our lives.
We remember that she loved her "Family Celebrations at Sleepy Hollow and always told us how many were able to attend. Also, Karen remembers when she took her to see "Tipper Gore" out at Bill Knapps house and Karen found herself (a republican) at a full fledged Democratic Rally. and then they toured the house together and giggled at being in Bill Knapp's Closet which was bigger than most bedrooms, what fun.
Sorry we can't be at the service, but we are in Alabama until March 1. Please accept our sincere sympathy in your loss.
Dick and Karen Shaffer
Kim Phillips & family
01/13/2012
Please know your entire family is in our thoughts and prayers. It is so hard to lose someone you love so much and that has left such an impact on so many people. She is in good hands now.
JoAnne Talarico
01/12/2012
Barbara certainly left a legacy for other women to follow. I will miss seeing her at the State House, Women for America and where ever there was some good political action happening. My sympathy to her husband, children and grandchildren.
Teresa Wolff
01/12/2012
What an amazing life. Thank you so very much for sharing her with all of us in the Democratic Party and for the blessings she has shared in creating a stronger women's leadership in the state of Iowa. Women like her are rare and create a path full of us can hope to follow. My condolences to the family for your loss of such a treasured soul. God Bless.
Marti Anderson
01/11/2012
Barbara shared her love and belief in people with all of her heart and soul. She made the world a better place for everyone, especially children and women. She passionately fought for peace, civil rights, and justice. And she loved to laugh. She made my life richer and I miss her already.
Melissa Funaro Kallevig
01/12/2012
Aunt Barbara will be so dearly missed! What a dazzling life example she set for us -- a wonderful woman who served the Lord and made a difference in others. She was always an inspiration to me personally.
To Uncle Maynard and the rest of the family -- our hearts and prayers are with you. I'm sorry that we will not be able to make it out for the service. Please let us know if there's anything we can do.
With Love,
Melissa Funaro Kallevig
Larry & Margaret Fogelson
01/11/2012
We grieve the loss of Barbara Boatwright for ourselves as well as for Maynard and the rest of the Boatwright family. We loved Barbara, and thought she was one of the finest ladies we have ever known. To us Barbara and Maynard were like adoptive parents. We regret that we could not be there to share in the families grieving. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Larry & Margaret Fogelson