Barbara B. Gwin, 90

Barbara passed just shy of her 91st birthday on Jan. 11, 2019.

She moved to the Flathead in 1995 and found her “heart and spirit” home next to Glacier National Park.

Barbara was born March 8, 1928, and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. She left when she was 18 on a train headed west to San Francisco. The year was 1946. It was there she met Capt. Garland Gwin of the U.S. Army, a veteran of World War II. They were married at the Presidio Base Chapel in 1947 and after a year in Palo Alto, California, moved to Napa Valley where they resided for 45 years. There they raised their four daughters. Both Barbara and Garland worked for the state of California at Napa State Hospital. Besides that work, Barbara held a real estate license and was active in her daughters’ school by being involved in the PTA, serving several years as the president. Barbara loved to travel. She and Garland would take the family on many trailer trips through the West and Southwest in their Airstream. She did her first trip to Europe in the ’70s as a solo female traveler and that set the path for many more adventures.

After Garland died in 1993, she followed her youngest daughter Jeanne to Montana and there she fell in love with the grandeur of Glacier National Park. In 1995, she purchased land and had a house built to her needs and desire. These past 24 years were probably some of the happiest in her life. She continued to travel for many years for she loved to explore history and art. Among her destinations of Russia, Ukraine, Italy, all of Europe, Africa and Costa Rica, her favorite memories came from the city of Florence and of Africa, both of which she visited several times. Barbara also loved to visit her daughters in Northern California and each visit required time in San Francisco as well as the north Mendocino coast.

While living in the Flathead, Barbara was an active member for many years of the Montana Native Plant Society, Audubon and volunteered for Meals on Wheels as well as organizing many blood drives. Though she did not end up volunteering for the Owl Research Institute in Charlo, she was a devoted follower of their work and all things related to owls. Barbara loved everything that flowered, had wings, four legs and tennis. She was an avid gardener, making sure her home was in full bloom every spring and into the fall months. She was active and independent until a few weeks before she passed. Barbara lived her life the way she wanted to. We, as her family, are all better for that example.

Barbara is survived by her four daughters, Carol Barnes (Phil), Sue Gwin, Teri Gwin (Glenn Hummel) and Jeanne Pat Gwin (Mike Farley); her sister, Beverly Carter, of Fort Worth. Texas; grandchildren, Kirk Allen, Leslie Allen (James Hedges), and Ty Gwin-Robison (Ashley Clark); and great-grandchildren, Adeline Allen, Zhane Allen, Lillian Allen and Garland Gwin-Robison.

We would also like to acknowledge her close friend and neighbor Katherine Coombs for her devoted help during her last few weeks. Also huge thanks to the registered nurses, Rehab staff and doctors of Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s Intensive Rehab Unit, as well as the excellent care of Home Options Hospice, registered nurse Jessica and certified nursing assistant Alicia, as well as the caregivers from Loyal Care.

A private ceremony will be held later this year.

In lieu of flowers or condolences, please send a donation to Owl Research Institute, P.O. Box 39, Charlo MT 59824.