Barbara W. Bottorff's Obituary
(also known as Barbara Link Whitman and Barbara Thomas)
Born: November 30, 1940
Died: October 26, 2025
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Barbara W. Bottorff, a beloved wife, mother, stepmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Barbara passed away peacefully on October 26, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, achievement, and kindness.
Barbara was born on November 30, 1940, to Julie Link Whitman and Stewart Whitman. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Elizabeth Emily Whitman Anderson, her first husband Nathan Lane Thomas, and her stepson Nathan Bradley Thomas.
Barbara is survived by her devoted husband, William Ward Bottorff of Heath, TX; her stepdaughter, Brittny Lee Bottorff of Tiburon, CA; her step-grandson, Baxter Bhansali of Berkeley, CA; her stepson, Michael Thomas Meyer and his wife Monique, of Salt Lake City, UT; their son Jack Mezo Meyer of Pensacola, FL; and their daughter Jaimeson Mezo Meyer of Virginia Beach, VA. Barbara is also survived by her brother-in-law, Gerald Lee Anderson of Plano, TX; her niece Susan Lynn Anderson and her son Seth Anderson McQuirt of Dallas, TX; her niece Carol Anderson Kern and her husband Gregory Kenneth Kern and their sons Kevin Lee Kern and Ryan Christopher Kern of Austin, TX.; her nephew Mark David Anderson and his wife Tonya Renee Anderson and their children Reese Marcus Anderson and Taylor Renee Anderson of Rockwall, TX.
Barbara’s educational journey began at Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, where she graduated in 1958. She attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, earning her associate’s degree in 1960. She attended the University of Texas at Austin and later earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from East Texas State University.
Barbara’s professional life was marked by a passion for learning and innovation. She served as a flight attendant for Braniff Airlines before joining DeGolyer & McNaughton. Her career at Texas Instruments was especially fulfilling. While there, she contributed to the development of the Little Professor and Speak & Spell educational scientific calculators -- projects she considered among her proudest achievements. When Texas Instruments relocated its Consumer Products Division, Barbara joined Motorola in Austin, working on the keyless door lock project for the Lincoln automobile.
After marrying Bill Bottorff in Austin, the couple founded Austin Business Computers, Inc., operating in various technology fields until their retirement in 2015. Barbara’s prowess with writing tight code for small devices brought in enough money in the first year to provide for a company bare-boat trip to the Virgin Islands in 1980. On the trip, she came up with the idea for “The Right Stuff” a high-tech retail boutique they opened in Austin. She creatively innovated ways to benefit both employees and customers. These included hosting Star Parties at The Right Stuff and User Groups for specific software communities (e.g., AutoCAD and Multimedia). In the early Eighties she also incented top salespeople with Corvettes to drive as company cars. In 2006 and 2007, Barbara and Bill were instrumental in founding the Video Game Archive at the Center for American History at the University of Texas in Austin.
Barbara’s life was enriched by her love for animals, especially the seven big dogs—one sheepdog, two St. Bernards, and four Newfoundlands—that she and Bill cherished over the years. In 2018, Barbara and Bill moved to the Dallas area to be closer to her sister Elizabeth and family.
On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 2:00pm CT, Barbara will be laid to rest beside her beloved sister Elizabeth at Restland Memorial Gardens at 13005 Greenville Ave in Richardson TX.
Barbara will be remembered for her warmth, intelligence, and unwavering dedication to her family and friends. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the many accomplishments she achieved. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Special thanks go out to her caregivers Rosie and Charlotte for helping her through her final days. And to the people at Access Hospice.
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