Barbara Esther (Whan) Hughes passed away peacefully on Tuesday the 25th of January, 2011, at Sophia's Care House in Walnut Creek. Barbara was born on February 1, 1916 in Greeley, Colorado to Bill, a Baptist Minister, and Esther, the Church Organist. She spent her childhood in a variety of interesting but short-lived towns including Billings, Montana; San Antonio, Texas; Waukegan and Aurora, Illinois; and Pontiac, Michigan. Barbara received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State Normal College (Eastern Michigan U) in 1938, where she met her future husband Art, who preceded her in death in 1973. Barbara and Art moved to Culver, Indiana in 1945, where in addition to running the Culver PTA, she taught English and Physical Education at West High School in Burr Oak and at Culver High School. In the 1970s she was a counselor and taught English in the formative stages of the Culver Academy for Girls. Barbara retired in 1980 and moved to East Alton, Illinois, where she volunteered for a local hospice. In 1992, she moved to Walnut Creek where she lived independently for 15 years at the Rossmoor Retirement Community. An avid reader, and a life-long Democrat, Barbara was a proponent of and contributor to many progressive causes. At Rossmoor Barbara spent twelve years volunteering for the Senior Tutor program, a program that mentors troubled youth. For seven of those years, she coordinated Seniors visits to Byron Boys Ranch (Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility), stepping down from that role when she turned 91. Barbara is survived by two daughters and a son Johanna Trickovic of Orinda, CA and Greta Berlin of Bar Sur Loup France, and Eric of Oakland; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Her daughter Christina preceded her in death in 1992. Donations may be made to the Barbara Hughes Memorial Fund, Senior Tutors for Youth, c/o Ann Martin Children's Center, 1250 Grand Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611. A private memorial is being planned for family and friends.