Obituary of Barbara Oldham

In Loving Memory of Barbara Oldham

Barbara Isabella Oldham (Antrobus) was born on September 28 1932 in Freeport Long Island New York to Isabella Anna Edwards and Edgar Butler Antrobus. The family relocated to Tucumcari New Mexico where Barbara spent all of her youth. In 1949 she married Albert Jasper Oldham who preceded her in death in 2008 having celebrated 59 years of marriage.

Barbara and Jasper raised their 3 children in Chandler Arizona. They were avid square dancers and even included their children in this activity. The family loved going camping together and Barbara and Jasper spent many months traveling the United States  living in their RV.  They had a very close group of friends who they traveled with and played cards with most weekends.

Barbara was a very strong and independent woman. While she was raising 3 children she achieved finishing her GED and then put herself through college graduating from Arizona State University in 1972. Achieving her education never got in the way of her being a full time mom to her children. She sent them off to school in the mornings and was always there to greet them when they returned home from school. She provided the family with a hot meal at dinner, helped her children with their homework, bathed them and got them to bed. She only went to class when the classes were held during her children’s school hours and only worked on her studies after all were cared for and in bed.  She would  study way into the night and then would do this all again the next day.

Once Barbara graduated from ASU with her degree in elementary education, she taught school in the Chandler Unified School District for 32 years. She was a valuable member of Chandler Schools while they were going through a large growth. She helped by moving to each new school to help them get off the ground and did this with many of their new schools. She taught 1^St grade during these 32 years having taught over 800 kids how to read!

Barbara was a very involved mother and grandmother. She never missed a ball game, a recital or special event of her children and grandchildren. She is so well loved and will be greatly missed.

Barbara is survived by her 3 children Keith Oldham, Brenda Oldham and Arthur Oldham. She is also survived by her 4 grandchildren Matthew Oldham, Jeffrey Oldham, Ryan Schenck and Alyssa Schenck and survived by 5 great grandchildren.

Barbara loved her dogs. Any donations that one may wish to make in her memory can be made to Apache Junction’s Paws and Claws Care Center at http://www.savingpawsrehab.com and select DONATE.