Barbara Lee Whitaker

Barbara left Michigan with her new husband, Darrell, in 1956 to support him throughout his US Air Force career. She skillfully managed his multiple overseas moves and raised their two boys in Libya, England, and Germany, among other locations, including a year alone stateside with the boys while Darrell was flying combat missions in Vietnam. While she was volunteering for the Red Cross in Germany, she felt a strong calling to medicine.

Darrell's assignment after Germany was in Washington, DC, so Barbara went back to school in 1976 at George Washington University and earned her degree and license as a Physician's Assistant. This is a great example of her drive and work ethic, since her classmates were predominantly men, and 15 years younger.

She worked for about ten years as a first surgical assistant at Capitol Hill Hospital, including taking call from their new house in Fairfax Station. Many surgeons requested her to be their First Assistant, over the scheduled First Assistant, because of her technical skills and dedication to duty.

As with all local residents, the lengthy commute lost its charm, and Barbara opened her own primary medical care clinic with a complete staff of nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Doctors, and office staff. During the many years she ran her successful business as a practitioner and owner, she also served on the Virginia Medical Board.

Shortly before turning 65, she retired to spend more time with her grandchildren and enjoy her good health with daily hikes in the wooded paths nearby. She finally had time to add pleasure reading to the reading she always did to keep current with medicine, and she relished police procedurals.

She was blessed with excellent physical and mental health until her last days, so her loved ones are deeply shocked as well as profoundly saddened by her sudden death.

Barbara is survived by her beloved son Mark and his wife, Mary, her four grandchildren, Paul, James, Helen, and Jordan, her beloved sister, Joan, her brother Gary and his wife Judy, along with nieces and nephews Todd, Wendy, Bryce, and Kyle, and many extended family and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Sally, her husband of 60 years Darrell, her beloved son Craig, and her beloved grandson Justin.

A visitation for Barbara will be held Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 186 Shelton Shop Rd, Stafford, Virginia 22554. Following the visitation will be a graveside service at 1:45 PM at Stafford Memorial Park, 154 Shelton Shop Road, Stafford, Virginia.

“…her loved ones are deeply shocked, as well as profoundly saddened by her sudden death.”