Carol Cobb Brigham

Carol Elizabeth Cobb Brigham died peacefully at her Palo Alto home, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 88. They will be hosting a Celebration of Life Luncheon at the Stanford Faculty Club on Saturday, July 8, at 12:30 p.m.

She was born on May 11, 1929, in Fresno, to Bessie Bryant Cobb and Lloyd Stanford Cobb. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social science from Stanford University in 1951, then became a buyer for The White House Department Store in San Francisco. She met her future husband, William (Bill) Brigham, in San Francisco, as he was stationed on Treasure Island in the U.S. Marine Corps. They were married in 1954 for almost 50 years, until her husband's death in 2004.

In 1954, the couple moved to Norman then to Ponca City, Oklahoma, where they lived and raised their five children until 1971. The family then moved to Stanford, where her husband was a professor in petroleum engineering for Stanford University, and she continued to provide strong support for her family.

Her early years of marriage were devoted to raising her five children, being a Campfire Girl Leader for her daughters, supporting her sons as a Boy Scout Den Mother, volunteering for Allied Arts and perfecting her excellent cooking skills. She was a very accomplished and passionate duplicate bridge player, being a Life Master several times over with her husband as her primary bridge partner. She played at the Palo Alto Bridge Center for several decades and traveled to bridge tournaments around the country with a variety of friends. She was a dedicated lifetime Giants fan, as well as a 49ers supporter and Stanford football fan. She thrived on reading, the theater, movies, crossword puzzles and traveling the world with Bill. She loved spending time with her family, raising her children and watching her grandchildren and great grandchild grow.

She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Blattel, Laurie Jester and Sarah Fletcher; sons, Bill Brigham and David Brigham; 10 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren and one great-grandson. She is predeceased by her husband, Bill; brothers, Charlie and Lloyd (Biff); and mother and father, Bessie and Lloyd Cobb.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made to The William E. Brigham Memorial Award Fund, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Stanford University or to the American Heart Association.