Obituary of Barbara Bell Scott

Barbara Scott died peacefully at home the morning of February 24. She was with her husband, Bob, and surrounded by the love and support of her family and friends. Barbara Jane Bell, a fifth generation Californian, was born November 6, 1936 in Riverside California to John and Ruth Bell. She attended Occidental College and graduated from UC Berkeley. While at UC she met Bob, and they married in 1959. They moved to Santa Cruz with two young boys in 1964. Over her years in Santa Cruz Barbara was active in many organizations including the PTA, AAUW, Planned Parenthood, Friends of the Library, PEO and her church. She firmly believed in supporting efforts to promote education, particularly for women. Barbara was perhaps best known for her knowledge and practice of knitting. She taught, maintained correspondence courses, designed and edited patterns, wrote articles for national magazines and worked in many local yarn shops and judged for the county fair. She was honored with an honorary life membership by The Knitting Guild Association as well as the local knitting guild. Barbara and Bob loved to travel all over the world and throughout the U. S. Over that last 20 years they explored every continent except Antarctica. In 2005, she "claimed" her 50th state. A perfect day for Barbara was to begin it in the pool with her friends in her water exercise class, help someone solve a knitting problem, talk on the phone with the grandchildren, entertain a couple of friends with a carefully planned dinner and end the day with a good book while listening to Gershwin music in the background. Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Robert, their son Jim (Ayo) of Denver. She is predeceased by their son John. Her grandchildren, Hope and Malachi, will miss their grandmother profoundly. She is also survived by her brothers, Robert (Linda) Bell of Watsonville and Bruce (Ginger) Bell of Greenville, South Carolina as well as hundreds of dear friends in Santa Cruz and around the country. Memorial services will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 420 Melrose Ave., Santa Cruz on Saturday, March 22 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Barbara's name to the Trinity Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund ( www.trinitypressc.org), or the John Scott Santa Cruz Jr. Lifeguard scholarship ( www.friendsofparksandrec.org). Please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com to light a candle or express your condolences to Barbara's family.