Barbara Ruth Spalti Rawson's Obituary
Barbara Ruth Spalti Rawson, a life-long resident of Dallas, died March 12th at Zale Lipshy Hospital with family at her side. She was 88. Babs was the granddaughter of Dallas business pioneer Horace Elton Spalti who along with his brother-in-law Will Myers, came from Iowa to Dallas in 1900 to start a furniture manufacturing company, Olive and Myers Manufacturing. Four years later they started Myers-Spalti Manufacturing Company in Houston. In the 1950s, under the leadership of Barbara’s father, Horace Duncan Spalti, these two companies became Olive-Myers-Spalti with offices and manufacturing moving to Athens, Texas.She attended The Hockaday School and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1947. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and later completed her undergraduate degree at the University of North Texas.Babs married Don Rawson in 1951 and they settled in Athens where Don was active in Olive-Myers-Spalti management. After moving back to Dallas in 1994, she was active in many organizations she enjoyed; The Mentor Club, Dallas Southern Memorial Association (past President), Texas Old Missions and Forts Restoration Association, the Mary K. Craig Class and Attingham Trust. Babs and Don loved to entertain in Athens and later in Dallas and Mexico, where they had many life-long friends. She was a talented interior designer and enjoyed the decorative arts, literature, jazz, classical music and the opera.Babs was preceded in death by her husband Don and brother Duncan. She is survived by her son Mike Rawson and wife Sue, daughter Becky Weaver and husband Tim. Sisters Susan Jackson and Leslie Michelson, brother Vance Spalti. Grandchildren Christopher Rawson, Worth Rawson and wife Chelsea, and Cindy Watson and husband James, great-granddaughter Jaycee Sueann Watson.Burial is private at the DFW National Cemetery. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 24th, 11:30 am, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church (the Chapel), 8011 Douglas Avenue, Dallas, TX 75225.
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