The members of the Spokane-Alyce Baker Chapter were saddened to learn of the death of long-time member Barbara Pugh on February 4, 2012. Born on June 30, 1929, in Spokane, Barbara was a life-long resident of Spokane except for a brief sojourn in Montana where the family moved shortly after her birth. Returning to Spokane in 1035, she attended Wilson Elementary School and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1947. Barbara also attended Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College, taking secretarial and office management classes. She worked for Spokane Public School District #81 for 27 years as an Administrative Secretary, providing professional services for Area Superintendents and Program Development, Basic Education, Business and Health Services. She was also active in school and community affairs while her children were in school. PTA and the Spokane County United School Groups activities promoting school levies and bond issues, as well as school legislative issues at the state level, were community issues to which she devoted her time and talent. She was awarded the Golden Acorn Award by the Spokane County PTA Council in 1959.

Barbara married Lyle Pugh in 1974. When Lyle retired, they both became active in the Spokane Area Retired Educators Association. She was the Newsletter editor for four years, then was elected President of the unit and followed that by being editor of the Directory for four years. Her skills were recognized at the state level and she was selected to be a member of the Rules and Resolutions Committee for three years then Chair of the Committee and a member of the Ad Hoc Committee to Revise Governance Documents. Barbara was appointed Secretary of the Executive Board, Washington State School Retirees Association, a position she held for 18 ½ years. She was recognized by those attending the state convention as “the lady with the hats”.

Barbara will be sorely missed by her colleagues from the Spokane-Alyce Baker Chapter.