Barbara Witham, 93, a 3 year resident of the Warm Beach Senior Community in Stanwood passed away on Friday, July 29, 2016 with her family at her side.

Barbara was born on May 18, 1923 in Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada, the daughter of Benjamin & Evelyn (Squirrell) Peers.  The family shortly thereafter moved to Bredfield, England where she was raised and attained her education.

It was in England that she met Edwyn Witham, a U.S. Army Air Corps B-17 gunner at a Red Cross dance during WWII.  In

March of 1946 she left England by boat arriving in Boston; she then boarded a train and arrived in Seattle on April 1^st.  She & Edwyn were married in Concrete on April 13, 1946.  They made their home and raised their family in Marblemount and there they operated a mink farm until 1964. They later operated the farm predominately growing hay.  Barbara became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1965; and had been a resident of the upper Skagit Valley for over 50 years.

Barbara was proficient in the culinary arts working at the Log House Inn in Marblemount, the Skagit Dining Station in Sedro-Woolley and at the Diablo Lake Resort until her retirement.   She was a proud member of the Daughters of the British

Empire, and was a charter member of the St. Martins-St. Francis Episcopal Church in Rockport and of the Marblemount Orthopedic Guild.  When spare time was available she would tend to her garden growing flowers and vegetables.

Barbara is survived by her children, Jennifer Donovan and husband Marvin of Burlington, Doug Witham and wife Lori of Stanwood, and Jeffery P. Witham of Marblemount; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, with the addition of a seventh great-grandchild and 1 great-great-grandchild due shortly; two sisters, Elizabeth Finnson and Brenda Dann, both of B.C. Canada and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Edwyn Witham, Jr.; her former husband, Edwyn Witham, Sr.; a sister Evelyn Bowen and a brother, John Peers.

A Life Celebration service will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. at St. Martins-St.Francis Episcopal Church in Rockport.   Memorials in honor of Barbara are suggested to St. Martins-St. Francis Episcopal Church, 55223 Conrad Road, Rockport, WA 98283.  Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.  Share memories of Barbara and sign the online guest register at ww.lemleychapel.com