Barbara Zimmerman, 87, passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2022, in Dallas, TX. She was born August 16, 1934 in Roswell, NM ,to Ann and Eugene Fry. She attended Hollins College until meeting and marrying the love of her life, Joe Zimmerman, on October 2, 1954. After a stint in Boston, MA, where Joe was earning his degree from MIT, they moved to Dallas in 1959 and built their life here.
Barbara was a devoted mother, cherished her family and took particular joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the ultimate hostess, an exceptional cook and loved to entertain both family and friends – her annual Christmas Eve party featured an array of homemade dishes, including her succulent baked log of bologna.
Barbara had a spirit for adventure and loved to travel with Joe, family and friends visiting all seven continents. She especially enjoyed the out-of-the-ordinary destinations such as Machu Picchu, Rwanda/Uganda to photograph the mountain gorillas, Burkina Faso, Bhutan, Timbuktu, the Ice Hotel above the Arctic Circle, Mongolia, Siberia and the Great Wall of China.
Her favorite destination was their second home in the small town of Lake City, nestled in the Colorado mountains where they spent their summers after Joe retired. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed fly fishing, backpacking, climbing Colorado’s “14ers”, skiing, snowmobiling, dirt biking, hunting mushrooms and jeeping. She was an avid sports fan, whether watching her family’s sporting events or cheering on the Dallas Cowboys.
Barbara was kind, selfless and always willing to help others. She made a lasting impact on the Dallas community with her involvement in numerous and diverse local charities. She spent her time with organizations that she was passionate about, becoming the leader or chairwoman for many organizations, culminating in serving as the Crystal Charity Ball Chair in 1989. Other notable community organizations she supported include Dallas Easter Seals Society for Children, Art About Town, Old City Park, Dallas Woman’s Club, The Family Place and VNA.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Joe; sons Joe and his wife Megan, Dale and his wife Margaret, and Steve and his wife Lisa. Barbara is also survived by her seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren - Hayley Zimmerman Creecy, her husband Chris and their children Harper and Sophie; Abby Zimmerman Stevens, her husband Nathan and their children Fletcher and Jaxon; Neil Zimmerman, his wife Jane and their children, Diana and Wesley; David Zimmerman and his husband Tom Sixsmith; Michael Zimmerman; Matthew Zimmerman and Mackenzie Zimmerman.
A memorial service with be held on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Highland Park Presbyterian Church located at 3821 University Blvd. in Dallas, followed by a reception in Elliott Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you consider making a donation to the charity of your choice in Barbara’s memory.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Zimmerman family.
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