Barbara Winders passed away peacefully July 22, 2023 at the age of 92 in Oakdale, CA. She was born Barbara Faith Lee to parents Siebert and Charlotte Lee in Inglewood, CA on December 11, 1930. After living in Compton during WWII, so her father could work in the shipyards, she moved with her family to Romoland, CA. During that time, she helped run the family chicken ranch before graduating from Perris High School in 1948. She lived in Vancouver B.C. with her aunt for several years before returning to the ranch in southern California. She met her future husband, Ray Winders while he was on leave from the Navy in Long Beach, CA. They married in Yuma, AZ on January 23, 1955.

After Ray had completed his military service, they decided to settle in Iowa, where Ray was from, to start a family and his career in construction working with his brother. Barbara raised her family in Iowa, where she had four children. Barbara worked for Sears, the local newspaper and eventually her passion as a floral designer. In 1975, the family moved to Ankeny, IA where she continued her love for arranging flowers and gardening. After raising her family, she moved back to southern California in 1985 to help assist with her mother and father. In 2000, after her parents had passed away, she moved to Oakdale to be with her son and his family.

Barbara loved to travel, especially the deserts in southern California, watching the wild flowers bloom each spring. She enjoyed her travels to France and New Zealand seeing the beautiful landscapes and meeting new people.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Siebert and Charlotte and her brother Richard, she is survived by her husband Ray, sons Phillip and Galen, daughters Jeanne and Marlys, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Barbara’s final resting place will be at the San Joaquin National Cemetery, Santa Nella, CA.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

The Riverbank (Calif.) News

Aug. 2, 2023