Barbara Simon

Barbara Simon was a long time resident of the Englewood Meridian, having moved there in 1997 after the passing of her husband, Richard H. (Dick) Simon, in 1995. She frequently entertained her friends and neighbors at the Meridian on her own piano, a baby grand made by Base and Sons in the 1930's. She has been a life long natural piano player with a repertoire of hundreds of lovely and familiar tunes that date back to the 1930s.

Barbara was born in Cleveland, Ohio on April 7, 1911, daughter of Helen and Homer Bayliss. Later in that decade her mother brought her to Denver because she suffered from asthma, and they moved in with grandparents on Humbolt Street. She recovered from asthma and attended several Denver schools including Elmwood, Byers Junior High and South High School. She then enrolled in the Liberal Arts College at the University of Denver and graduated from there in 1932. During her senior year she met Richard H. Simon, both elected to the Inter-School Council. They became engaged in 1932, during the Great Depression, but postponed their wedding while Dick finished law school and worked as a deputy sheriff for Arapahoe County. Barbara went to D.U. School of Commerce, picking up some secretarial skills, then worked at Kendrick-Bellamy in its book department and then for the KOA radio station. Before her marriage on July 11, 1936, she also worked for the architect Temple Hoyne Buell.

Barbara and Dick had two daughters, Cynthia Simon Raynor, a graduate of Englewood High School and Wellesley College, and Susan Christine Simon, also a graduate of Englewood High School and Cornell University. In July of 1954, Barbara, Dick and the two girls moved from their home at 3103 South Bannock to a new home at #2 Viking Drive in Cherry Hills. During her nearly 60 years of marriage, Barbara was active in the P.T.A in both girl's schools. She joined the newly-formed Leota Club, similar to a junior-women's club, and became their president. She served two terms as president of the Arapahoe County Public Health Council. She also took Girl Scout training and took over the leadership of daughter Cynthia's Girl Scout Troop #91. She spent 20 years working in the Girl Scout organization culminating in her election as president of the Girl Scouts Mile High Council from 1962 - 1966. She was also the second member of the Mortar Board Alumni. She has also been a long term member of the Englewood United Methodist Church.

Barbara Simon, 99, widow of Richard H. Simon, passed away peacefully on May 13, 2010. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 16 at the Englewood United Methodist Church, 3885 S. Broadway, at 4:30 p.m. She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Raynor and Susan Simon; grandchildren, Rebecca Raynor, Lisa Raynor Williams and Brett Raynor; great-grandchildren, Sarah and Reese Williams. Memorial donations may be made to the church or Girl Scouts of Colorado, 400 S. Broadway Denver, CO 80209. To share a memory of Barbara Simon, visit www.olingerchapelhill.com.