Barbara Booth Passmore, age 89, passed away on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022 in Lansing, Michigan. The daughter of Russell Berkins Booth and Eugenia Griffin Booth, Barbara, an only child, was born on May 27, 1933 in Jamaica, Queens, New York. Her father was a veterinarian and her mother was a nurse.
Barbara first encountered Quakers at Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, New York. She attended and boarded there for high school, and after graduation continued her studies with a year of secretarial school. Barbara’s time at Oakwood set the course of much of her life, as Quakerism became her spiritual home and she met her future husband Henry Passmore. They married in 1951.
While living in Springfield Massachusetts, Barbara and Henry’s children, Mary (1953) and Diane (1955) were born. They subsequently moved to Media, Pennsylvania, where they lived for many years and raised their family. Their son Sam was born in 1961. Henry worked in nonprofit administration including some years with the International Division of the American Friends Service Committee. Barbara worked in schools and health institutions as a secretary and executive assistant. Barbara’s excellent organizing skills were also a valued part of family life. She was the parent who made sure that everyone was ready on Sundays for worship and first day school. Henry was a birthright Quaker, and Barbara became a Quaker by convincement at Media Friends Meeting.
Barbara was a proud and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was active in social justice endeavors during her lifetime, including Quaker meeting, community organizations and as an advocate for the homeless. Barbara enjoyed hosting dinner parties, celebrating holidays with family and friends, baking pies and cookies, playing cards and other games, listening to classical music, watching baseball especially during the World Series, reading, gardening, and taking care of lots of dogs and cats over the years, most especially her beloved yellow lab ‘Goldie’. Every year when the children were young, she organized the annual family vacation to the Jersey shore.
Following her divorce, Barbara moved to Seattle in 1993 where Diane, her family, and several cousins were living. She and Goldie moved into a little rental house in Seward Park, and Barbara set out to build a new community. She found a spiritual home at University Friends Meeting, and transferred her membership from Media Meeting in 1995. During her early years at UFM she served on the Hospitality Committee and clerked the Subcommittee on Care. She coordinated the Meeting’s participation in a program to provide meals to homeless youth in our neighborhood. She also volunteered weekly at a free clinic for homeless teens.
Barbara spoke the truth directly. She faithfully attended meeting for worship and meeting for business. She voiced strong opinions, but deeply understood that Quaker process relies on the working of Spirit within the whole community, leading to unity and right action beyond persuasion. We particularly remember Barbara for her compassion and perseverance as she clerked the Subcommittee on Homelessness, and as an advocate for the Meeting offering shelter to homeless people in our worship room. Through her efforts, we engaged carefully and more fully understood what hosting a shelter would mean. Her work directly contributed to University Friends Meeting’s decision to host a shelter along with a reminder to review that decision carefully on a regular basis.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and infant daughter Margaret Passmore. Surviving are her children Mary Karp (and son-in-law Peter Karp) of Santa Rosa, California; Diane Pina of San Antonio, Texas; and Sam Passmore (and daughter-in-law Kelly Passmore) of Okemos, Michigan. She is also survived by six grandchildren (Jason, Matthew, Julie, Ruben, Lucy and Daniel) and three great-grandchildren (Luzia Zo, Caragh and Henry).
Approved by University Meeting
3-8-23