Barbara Ruth Dunn Houston passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 11, surrounded by her children in her home in Radford.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Walter Dunn and Ruth Vlcek Dunn; her sister, Janie Dunn Hughes; and her loving partner Bob Young.
She is survived by her sister, Patricia Jones; her former husband, Crosby Houston; and her three children, Emily, Amanda and Ben; and seven grandchildren.
Barbara was a member of Grace Episcopal Church and a longtime member of the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.
She was born into an Air Force family on May 30, 1939, in Fort Sill, Okla. She grew up in Puerto Rico, Georgia, Germany and Texas and graduated high school at Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas.
Barbara earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University and master’s degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and Virginia Tech. She spent her professional years as a full-time mother, teacher and finally as a high school guidance counselor in Christiansburg.
She lived all over the world, including Texas, Colorado, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Florida and New York. Her favorite place by far was her family lake cabin located in the north woods of Minnesota where her ashes will be scattered.
The family would like to express their love and appreciation for the Young family for all their caring, support and friendship over the years, and for the many friends and acquaintances Barbara made over the 25 years she lived in Southwest Virginia.
In light of the current COVID-19 crisis, memorial services will be planned for a later date in coordination with Mullins Funeral Home and the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church at 701 Church St SE, Blacksburg, VA 24060.
The Houston family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford.
