Barbara Jane Butler, 83, of Calistoga and St. Helena, died Tuesday, Dec. 16.
She was born to the late Thelma and Bruce Gibson, March 27, 1931, in Phoenix, Arizona. Barbara graduated from El Cerrito High School in 1949 and subsequently received her R.N. from the Sanitarium in Independence, Missouri. She married the late Richard K. Butler in 1955, and then resided in Hayward, California, until her husband’s passing.
Barbara worked in various routine and supervisory nursing roles in the East Bay.
Looking for a challenge, she applied to and was accepted to Stanford School of Medicine’s inaugural class of Physician’s Assistants in 1971. As a P.A. and C.N.P. she worked in family practice and emergency medicine in San Jose, Nevada and Merced until her retirement in 2000.
After relocating to Calistoga, Barbara was active in ensuring seniors’ access to affordable housing. She was an animal lover and loved to read and discuss religion and politics.
Barbara is survived by two children: Rhett Butler of Guadalajara, Mexico, and Cynthia Butler of Calistoga. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Hana Butler and Elijah Egger.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the American Vet Dogs.
A celebration of life gathering will be held at Silverado Orchards, 601 Pope St., St. Helena on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, from 2-4 p.m.
Condolences may be shared with the family online at TulocayCemetery.org.My aunt Barbara, my mother's sister. As you can see from her obituary she was quite accomplished.
This is a big one for me. I was not close to a lot of relatives, but I was close to aunt Barbara.
Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker
