Barbara West

Barbara Diane (Cawthon) West, 88, took God’s hand November 10, 2023. Her body was donated to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program.

She was born January 29, 1935 to Alfred and Dessie (Nichols) Cawthon in Collins, Iowa. Went to school K-12 in Fernald, Iowa then on to business school in Des Moines.

Barbara retired as a financial planner & spent many years traveling with Stan and family.

Barbara grew up on a farm northeast of Nevada, Iowa, the youngest of four siblings - two sisters and one brother. All were 15 years or more older than she was. Her last surviving sibling died in February 2008 at the age of 92.

Fernald Consolidated School took Barb from Kindergarten through 12th grade. She earned 4 years of letters in band, chorus and basketball (All State Honorable Mention in BB her senior year).

The day after Barb graduated from Fernald Consolidated School, she moved to Des Moines to attend Capital City Commercial College. She got a job as a department secretary after graduation, at Iowa Packing Company, met her husband on a double date (she was with the other guy), got married in Las Vegas, and stayed in the Des Moines area. They had five children, six grand -children and 6 great grandchildren. They lived on an acreage between Des Moines and Ankeny for 45 years, and had Boxer dogs until 2007 when the last one died. In April 2009 she gave a home to a 3 year old cat named Tiger whose owner had died. In 2012 they got a Cavashon who will now live with one of the girls.

When Barb’s first child was born she became a stay-at-home mom until the youngest started kindergarten. She had to get out of the house after 17 years, so started selling Avon while the kids were in school. She developed into the top salesperson in the eastern half of the state, including Des Moines. Delivery of Avon orders by motorcycle in good weather was a lark. But she also rode in very cold weather at least two times - once to the other side of Nevada to visit her parents by herself when it was about 30 degrees, and once to Creston with husband Stan to visit his parents on the opening day of pheasant hunting season in November.

After seven years with Avon, Barbara wanted something more financially rewarding so she started in life insurance, funds & stocks and bonds sales. She earned four industry designations along the way to becoming a financial planner. Barb’s first ten years was with Life Investors Insurance Co. of America (ex-governor Robert Ray was president for a few years). She was a General Agent for them, which meant that she was responsible for hiring, training, and, if necessary, firing agents in the agency, and well as selling product. Barb owned her own office in Ankeny. She finally achieved her goal of the highest award Life Investors gave their sales people, so was ready to change when she was recruited by the Des Moines Agency of Principal Financial Group.

During that time Barbara joined the Breakfast Exchange in 1981 (was still a member), sponsored by Avis Eckel, who was one of the original members of the group. Avis was the Financial Officer with Stoner Broadcasting. She also belonged to other women in business organizations through the years.

Her next 11 years were spent with Principal Financial Group and she worked out of the Des Moines Principal Agency as a self-employed financial planner, with a contract with them to use their products in planning. Barb retired from that position on February 1, 2000. Her best experiences from this industry were the friendships with her clients. (As well as the financial rewards.)

Her enjoyment after retirement was spending days with Stan doing whatever they wanted to do. Having free days to do nothing special was fabulous. She read, traveled, interacted with family, played pool with Janet McDonough, and she took care of her flower gardens, with a lot of help from her daughter, Nicki. They started to limited their traveling after 10 years due to the bedbug scare. (Saw to many TV shows about it).

Barb liked spoof type movies, ex, SOB and High Anxiety. Otherwise mostly straight comedies (‘mind candy’ as an acquaintance calls that type of thing).
She started watching much more TV than in the past. It’s another companionable thing to do with the husband hence, the bedbug programs. She was a reader, read at least 2 to 3 books a week.

She leaves her children, Diane (Larry) Sours, Karen (Jim) Biegger, Stan (Tressa Aeschliman) West II, Nicolette (Kurt White) West, Jo (David) Field; grandchildren, Carl West, Jennifer (Kenny) Killmer, Bryan Field, Aryanna Field, Mattew Biegger, Mindi (Dave) McDonald; great- grandchildren, Kara Killmer, Jacob Biegger, Abigail Biegger, Delaney Sample, Lucas Sample, Joe McDonald; best 4 -legged friend Charlie, two nieces and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Stanley C, West, two sisters, and one brother.

The family will be present to host a remembrance celebration between 3 p.m. & 5 p.m. on Monday November 20th at the Boline-Manfredi Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) located at 1309 NE 66th Ave, Des Moines, Iowa

Memorials may be directed to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. If flowers are sent please send to the house, 257 NW 66th Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50313

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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