Babara Lillian Glaisyer's Obituary
Tacoma, Washington – Barbara Glaisyer, passed away peacefully in her home, in presence of her husband, John Glaisyer, and two sons, John Mathews and Jason Mathews.
Barbara, aka ‘Bobby’, was born a California native to Ruby Walker and August (Aka “Sharky”) Alvarez. She grew up in Stockton California with her brother and cousins whom she loved like siblings, attended high school at Stockton High, and earned her associates degree later in life while raising her 2 boys.
She started her career working at Aerojet Rocketdyne. One of her earliest achievements was being a part of the team that worked behind the scenes on the Apollo 11 space project. She was a fantastic if un-orthodox officers wife for a decade. Later in her life she had a successful career working at Bargreen Ellingson as the Credit Manager, most notably approving credit for Starbucks, before they became a global chain.
She was an accomplished Racquetball player, a biker (riding around on an Indian motorcycle with her mom and pop), a skilled Skier, a creative and talented artist creating many oil paintings, and even a surprisingly capable dancer in her 70’s. She enjoyed playing piano, cooking and baking, and crazy amounts of book reading on British royal history. She flew in a glider, raced down snow hills in a toboggan, and never shy’ed away from trying new things and new experiences, she was nothing short of fearless.
Later in life, her interest in travelling took shape when her husband John, a fighter pilot in the Air Force, was stationed in Zaragoza, Spain, where they spent three years emersed in Spanish culture. While there, they spent every available vacation day travelling throughout Europe. From eating crepes under the Eifel Tower to drinking White wine on a tour boat down the Rhine in Germany, her “Top Gun” showed her, and their kids, the world.
One of Barbara’s greatest passions in life, and achievements, was creating such a massive family around the world. If you were lucky enough to be one of Barbara’s friends, you were family, and she treated you with the same love and respect as she had for her own brother and children. Her love for life and family was infectious and as such, people gravitated towards that energy. Her strong spirituality and faith were fostered by her Autie Lupe, aka ‘Nina’, which were inspiring and uplifting to anyone she came in contact with. She affected and connected so many lives in the most wonderful ways.
Barbara is survived by her husband John, sons, John and wife Judith, Jason and wife Aga, grandchildren, Connor, Linc and Max, Stepsons Chriss and wife Dominique, and Mat, step-grandchildren Nicholas, Liam and Melody, her brother Carl, Cousin, numerous nieces and nephews, god-children and beloved friends.
She was the “glue” that kept so many people together. There are no words left to describe how much she will be missed, and forever loved. She will always be associated with one of her favorite songs, ‘You are my Sunshine’!
For those who knew Barbara, her graveside services will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery, Friday the 19th @ 1pm.
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