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Barbara I. Williams, a long-time resident of Los Alamos, died peacefully in her sleep on May 6 in Sandy, UT, after a long and fruitful life. She was 85. "Barb" was born on August 6, 1921 in Marion, MI, to Edward and Ida Innis (nee Bell), and moved a few years later to Denver, CO. It was in Denver that Barbara met the one love of her life, Arthur (Art) H. Williams. They married in Denver in 1942, just before Art joined the US Army Air Corps during WWII. While Art was on Tinian Island, Barb finished her studies at the University of Denver, earning a BA in Library Science in 1943. After Art returned from WWII, Barb and Art lived in Denver while Art pursued degrees in Physics and Mathematics, earning a BS in both fields in 1950. While Art attended school, Barb worked as a staff librarian in the university library. After Art finished college, the young couple moved to Sunspot, NM, where Art worked as an astronomer for the Sacramento Peak solar observatory (now known as the National Solar Observatory). Very soon after arriving at "Sac Peak," Art co-authored a paper that got the attention of Berlyn Brixner of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Brixner hired Art in 1950, and consequently, Art, Barb and their newborn son, Chriss, moved to Los Alamos in December of the same year. Art and Barb immediately fell in love with Los Alamos and its mountain environment, and decided to stay and raise a family there. At first, Barb stayed at home with the kids while Art worked at the Lab. Finally, when their youngest son, Forrest, was old enough to attend first grade, Barb went back to work. Starting in 1964, Barb worked as a school librarian for Los Alamos Public Schools for the next twenty years. Barb touched the lives of countless children while librarian at Pajarito Elementary, Aspen Elementary and Pueblo Junior High Schools. The hundreds of letters and artwork that Barb received over the years from current and former students are a testimony to the love and devotion that she gave every day to her job, and to the children that were the focus of her life's work. She was an even more devoted mother. In 1974, Chriss died unexpectedly during an epileptic seizure. Throughout the crisis brought on by Chriss' untimely death, Barb remained steadfast as the family's anchor in stormy seas. Then, Art passed away in 1991 shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Again, even though she had lost her soul mate, Barb remained as strong and dynamic as ever, and was the rock for the rest of her family - Barb's spirit could not be denied! In 2003, Barb began to need help in her daily life. At first, she went to live with her daughter's (Edie's) family in Albuquerque, and thereafter moved in 2004 to Alta Ridge Assisted Living in Sandy, UT, where she could be closer to Forrest (who lives in nearby Cottonwood Heights, UT). The family thanks the staff of Alta Ridge for all the help and care they provided Barb for the three-and-a-half years that she was with them, and thanks Julee and everyone else with Haven Hospice for the tremendous support they provided in the last two years of Barb's life. Special thanks are also due to Helen Carpenter of Los Alamos for all the love and help she has given Barb and her family over the years. Barb is survived by her brother Bob Innis and his wife Elizabeth Innis, son Dean and his wife Sarah Williams, son Forrest and his wife Anna Williams, daughter, Edalyn (Edie) Johnson and Edie's husband Stan Johnson; grandchildren Rob Williams, Rachel Williams and Kaelyn Johnson; and three great-grandchildren Kassy, Savannah, and Trinity Williams. A Memorial Service celebrating Barb's life will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, May 18, at the United Church in Los Alamos, NM, followed by interment at Guaje Pines Cemetery in Los Alamos.
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