Barbara Anne Bush

Barbara Anne Bush (Chase) of Eugene, Oregon, passed away on January 23, 2025. She was 92 years old.

Barbara (‘Barb’) was born a farmer’s daughter on September 27,1932 in Springfield, Oregon. She spent her early years playing with her three older siblings under the branches of her family’s orchards on the banks of the McKenzie River. Barb was struck by polio as a young child and lost the ability to walk. She demonstrated her determination and grit by learning to walk again over the course of a year. 

Barb met John (‘Jack’) Bush at First Baptist Church of Springfield and married him on July 19, 1953. Barbara and Jack dreamed of farming their own land and worked hard to purchase a 210-acre farm in Coburg while raising their two young children, Peggy and Dwayne. Barbara spent her life in the Willamette Valley growing hazelnuts, strawberries, and peaches in partnership with her husband and, upon her husband’s early death in 1987, her son. She enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing clean, beautiful fields of strawberries and spent many hours in all types of weather keeping the fields clear of weeds. She much preferred being outside on the farm than inside doing housework. The first Coburg farm blossomed into farming over 375 acres west of Eugene at the time of Barbara’s retirement.

Barb found herself a widow in her 50’s, after her children were grown. She pursued her dream of further college education, graduating from Mt. Hood Community College as a physical therapy assistant. Barb wanted to contribute back to the discipline that had enabled her to walk again. She worked part-time in this field until her retirement.

Barbara’s faith in God was the cornerstone of her life. Her formative faith years were spent with her family attending First Baptist Church of Springfield. Later in life, Barb was in community with Alvadore Christian Church. She exhibited the fruit of the Spirit, treated all with kindness, and was generous with her time and resources. 

Barbara was preceded in death by her mother and father, Chester and Veda Chase; her sisters, Gwendolyn Chase and Bernice Noll; her husband, John (‘Jack’) Bush; and her daughter Peggy Wescott.

She is survived by her son Dwayne Bush (wife, Jean), grandchildren Jason Harman (wife, Kate), Jaclin Paul (husband, Brian), Katie Bollinger (husband, Richard), Jenny Peek (husband, Nick), Melinda Lloyd (husband, Bryan), and Kimberlee Bush. Also surviving is her older brother, Rodney Chase, and twelve great-grandchildren.

Burial will be private. A Celebration of Life for Barbara will be held on March 1st at 1:00pm at Alvadore Christian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara’s memory to the American Cancer Society or Wycliffe Bible Translators.