Barbara Seymour's Obituary
Barbara Ann Grape Seymour, passed away on December 18, 2018 at the age of 76.Barbara was born on May 11, 1942 in White Plains, NY. She grew up with a love of Broadway musicals, the Rockettes, and the beach.Barbara graduated from Katharine Gibbs in Manhattan, and entered the secretarial profession. At Alexander’s, she met her future husband, Peter Seymour, who diligently managed the gift department – including in-season plastic roses. Pete began his quest to earn Barbara’s love. Eventually, he succeeded, and on August 3, 1963, they were married and honeymooned by cruising up Long Island Sound in a small sailing craft. Quickly afterwards, Pete whisked his lovely bride off to Natchitoches, LA to complete his education and support his young wife. Barbara “pounded the pavement” to find secretarial jobs, and thus the young couple began building their lives together.After some time, the happy couple moved to Texas where Pete began a career as a high school teacher in Garland and Barbara began the start of her 40 year career at Texas Instruments in Dallas. Barbara became the Administrator of TI’s Legal Department, a role at which she both excelled and profoundly enjoyed. During that journey, she had a daughter, Laurie, and completed a B.S. in Human Relations from University of Texas at Dallas.Barbara was a natural mentor and leader. Her way of working with her family, friends and co-workers, was filled with compassion and a great desire to understand the perspective of others. She always tried to find a kind or gentle solution to any problem she encountered.Barbara and Pete loved to travel, taking Laurie on many trips throughout America and Europe. And while Pete loved to race sailboats, Barbara liked to cruise. They cruised to Alaska, Russia, Eastern Europe, and many other places in the world. Barbara loved musicals and Broadway, Pete loved orchestra and opera, and they alternated their musical attendance to the great enrichment of each other.Barbara loved her family and friends with all her heart and soul. She loved helping people achieve their goals, and inspiring them to move past their challenges. She was an exceptional organizer and planner, meticulous and disciplined. Her friends cite her as one of the most kind and gracious people they ever met. Meanwhile, her husband and daughter refer to her as the “Boss”.After retirement, Barbara’s time and energy shifted to her friends, from both sailing and dancing activities. She continued her pursuit of tap dance and movement, taking classes as many times as she could, all the way up to the last week of her time on this earth.Barbara is preceded in death by her mother, Virginia, and her beloved cousin, Spencer. She is survived in death by her adoring husband Peter, her best friend and daughter, Laurie, her brother, Jerry, and her cousin Carl.A memorial service is planned for December 21, 2018 at 12:30pm at Restland in Dallas at 13005 Greenville Avenue, in the Wildwood Chapel. While flowers are welcome, donations to the Dallas Area Parkinson’s Society in Barbara’s name, in lieu of flowers are also appreciated. www.daps.us
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