Barbara Russell Williams

Barbara Williams, age 81, passed away peacefully at home in Bellevue, Washington on December 1, 2023 with her loving husband, Steve, at her side. She died after a brief illness of complications due to a brain tumor.

Barbara was known for her infectious light heartedness and generosity towards all people, young or old, family, friends, and students. Barb was truly loved. She was a gifted teacher, who grew up in rural Dover, Massachusetts, the middle daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Russell. Her father, a marine biologist, established in Barb a love for the natural world, which she continued throughout her life.

Barbara attended Milton Academy, Colby-Sawyer College (1962), received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Wheelock College in Boston (1964), and a Masters of Environmental/Science Education degree from the University of Washington in Seattle (1975).

Intrigued by the Pacific Northwest after a summer boating trip up the inlets of British Columbia with friends, Barb moved to Seattle and took her first job as a pre-school teacher at the Bush School. From there, wanting to savor all that Seattle had to offer, Barb worked for a time as an environmental coordinator for the Cousteau Society, taught third grade and 4th-6th gifted students, then worked as assistant camp director for the King County Extension Service, a bank teller, medical secretary, accounting clerk for KIRO RADIO/TV before settling down as Supervisor of the Education Program at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. There she developed curriculum and taught science classes for students PreK-6, as well as developed programs for the Native American exhibit- The Sea Monster House. This activity generated her lifelong interest in Native American culture and ethnobotany.

From 1981-1984, Barb taught preschool at Sunnybeam School on Mercer Island where her sister’s children attended. It was on the Island that she met her husband, Steve Williams, a park manager and fellow lover of the natural world. They were married in 1984, their reception held at Sunnybeam, filled with laughter, dancing, friends, family and preschool children. Barb inherited two wonderful stepchildren, Shelly Williams Lindstrom, and Aaron Williams, whom she raised as her own, delighting them with humorous and often unpredictable adventures.

In Barb’s later years, she developed and coordinated the Living Lab program for K-5 students at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, training volunteers, hiring teachers, and introducing children to the wonders of flower pollination, which she called, “Flower Power”, always with a sense of fun. Before her death, she asked friends to remember her when they saw a flower.

Together, Barb and Steve contributed countless hours to the Botanical Garden, as well as worked to preserve history with the Eastside Heritage Center, the Winters House, and the coal mining history of Newcastle. Both wrote chapters in the noteworthy 2020 edition of the “Coals of Newcastle” book. More recently, they testified together in an effort to preserve and add the last coal miner’s home and farm to Coal Creek Park for generations to enjoy.

Barb is survived by her husband, Steve, her stepchildren, Shelly Lindstom (Steve); Aaron Williams(Corrina ); sister Cynthia Howe (John); grandchildren Alison Lindstrom, Jack Lindstrom; niece Beth Howe (Christopher Eckley); grandniece Louisa Eckley; niece Emily Howe (Josh Frank); grandniece and nephew, Haana and Torin Frank; nephew Nathaniel Howe (Melissa Chasse) and grandniece Aurélia.

A memorial ‘Celebration of Barb’s Life’ will be held next spring on April 27, 2024 at Lewis Creek Park Nature Center.

Remembrance donations are suggested to the Eastside Heritage Center or the Bellevue Botanical Garden.