Barbara WILLIAMS Obituary

I am so sad to learn that Barbara has passed away. Barbara was a very special cousin to me. She was always so kind to me and my parents when I was a very little girl living in Meremere.

I will always have fond memories of Barbara during my time in Rotary and District 9940. Particularly the occassion of my first Rotary Club meeting I attended as newly minted District Governor 9940 on Tuesday 4th July 2017 at the West End Bowling Club, for the ceremony hosted by the Rotary Club of New Plymouth West to provide their Rotary Club taonga to be held in trust by the District Governor during their term of office, the District Governor tokotoko or Chiefs speaking stick.

A wonderful evening at the Rotary Club of New Plymouth West, steeped in tradition and very humbling for the incumbent District Governor.

With PDG Barbara' and her daughter present we enjoyed wonderful chats about Rotary, farm life and much more with a meal. With Barbara's wonderful sense of humour and wisdom I was provided with the perfect welcome to the role of District Governor in our Rotary International District 9940.

Rest in peace, as we will remember and commemorate an absolutely wonderful person and Rotarian exemplifying "Service Above Self".

Mitchell Brown
Past District Governor 2017-18
Rotary International District 9940

Barbara held a special place in the Rotary family of Taranaki, my home province. It was in New Plymouth at Barbara´s Conference that she asked me the question "Did you enjoy the conference? Followed by would you like to organize one yourself" Of course I said "yes but when", and she replied "When it is your Conference as District Governor". It was only then that I understood that I was being offered the privilege of the Governor role for 2007/8. From then on she was our guardian angel, keeping in touch offering words of advice and always available but not interfering.

Yes we are grateful to have shared our Rotary life with having Barbara Williams in it. A very special lady!

Rest in Peace Barbara

Pat and Melva Waite

A delightful lady who showed her care and grace during all the times that we were
with her. A truly splendid Rotarian and a credit to her District.

Farewell Barbara

So many happy memories of Barbara. Three special enduring memories though. Apart from her amazing competence in farming business and rotary.

1). Her wonderful friendship with Dame Malvina Major - Rotary 9940 certainly benefited from that.

2). The fun and laughter travelling on the byways from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City to Bill Boyd´s convention in SLC with Oz and Nicki, Barbara, Ron and me all in the same car. Absolutely superb. Barbara told us she had previously ridden a horse through Grand Canyon. I think the journey by car may have been a tame.

3) Barbara reaching three strikes and you´re out with speeding tickets when she was constantly on the road travelling from New Plymouth all around the district the year she was Governor.

Barbara was one very special woman. Way ahead of her time. She believed she could do anything she set mind too and my goodness she did just that.

How lucky have I been to be able to call Barbara my friend.

Fond love from me to Barbara's family and all who knew and loved her

What a lovely lady! She brought something special to everyone she met.

What a awesome lovely lady I have so many thankful memories of her and being at her place for the years we were neighbours she had so so many patients putting up with John and me. And to the family she was awesome just like all of you
Cheers Mrs Willy fly high with all the angels Xoxox
Dean Hedley

Our Deepest sympathy to Barbara's family x
Deb and Alisa
Lancome

Our deepest sympathy to Barbara's family
Deb and Alisa
Lancome

It has been a privilege for me to have known Barbara and considered her a friend since I joined Rotary. She was an amazing woman who, in her own quiet way, showed strong leadership and gained the love and respect of all who knew her. She has given so much to the community and will be sadly missed. My condolences to her family.

To the Williams Family, our deepest sympathy at this very sad time.
The Churchill Family were neighbour's of Barbara for many years, such a lovely, kind lady.
Graeme and Laurel Churchill

It was a pleasure to be Barbara´s Organising Chair for her Rotary 9940 District Governor´s Conference held 19 years ago on 11-13 March 2005. She was a gracious, thoughtful, caring person in her leadership role and received the support of all Rotarians for her work assisting communities both local and internationally. Carol and I extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to her family.

In our experience, Barbara was a woman with a deep love for her family and for her community.
We met Barbara when her grandsons were attending the NPBHS Hostel when she would attend the Island Night put on by the Island Girls from Scotlands and the Island Boys from Niger House. She had developed an affinity with these students and would, annually, invite them to her home and beautiful garden for a BBQ and fun-day out.
A couple of weeks before the event, I would get the summons, "Would you arrange for your Island boys to be at my home on Saturday." You simply couldn't refuse!

Deepest sympathy,
Murray and Gillian Grimwood.

Deepest sympathy to the family of Barbara, a beautiful gracious lady.
May she rest in peace.
Mary and Kieran

Thinking of you at this sad time.
Heather Jenkins

Barbara was a wonderful role model for women. So fitting then that she passed on International Women´s Day. She will be deadly missed by her friends at Jean Sandel.

Sorry for the loss of Mrs Williams. Such a lovely lady who always put her community 1st. And loved showing her beautiful garden
Hugo and Maria

Deepest sympathy to the family of Barbara, a respected lovely lady. May she rest in peace.

Thinking of all the Williams family so sorry to read this Barbara was a lovely lady and friend I can remember Guy Faulks in the wool shed, and the best swimming pool in Taranaki, love to you all Helen Good (Higgins)

Our very sincere sympathy to the Williams family, we were very sad to hear of Barbara´s passing.
She and Bill were great friends of our parents Laurie and Joan Luckin.Bill and Laurie belonged to the Blue Lodge.
As Luckin children we enjoyed our visits to the pool on hot summer afternoons ,the visits to the wool shed with its wonderful collection of interesting bits and pieces, and exploring her lovely garden.We all went to Newall Road school in our younger years.
Barbara and Mum would take turns in taking us to Sunday school lessons in the old,very old kahui school and then later in the disused Kahui road dairy factory.Barbara also took Mary,Anne and me to dancing classes, a brief experience for me.
When Laurie died we remember Barbara bringing meals for us and supporting us,she was such a good friend to Joan
Barbara was such an elegant,approachable and kind person, and we David,Barbara ,John and I always enjoyed our chats.
She will be so sadly missed by you all,
With our heartfelt sympathy
The Luckin Family

Sad to see the loss of Barbara..

Remembering a beautiful lady from her early days in Meremere to becoming our long standing neighbour in the Newall district. Our love and thoughts are with her family.
The Hooker and Hickey Families.

Barbara. Your kidnes and love for everyone was something i will never forget.
My thoughts are with your family

Mrs Willy was a very lovely Lady. So generous and caring. Often remember her coming over on a summer afternoon on her Polaris with icecreams in the chillybin when we worked on her farm. A wonderful and interesting Lady. Will be missed by many.

Special memories of our dear friend Barbara who was part of our Tumahu Rural Women´s Branch
Your fun sense of humour & lovely smile will be missed
Rest in Peace
Our thoughts are with your Family xx
Jo Morgan

To Barbara's family our thoughts are with you at this time. A wonderful lady who lead a wonderfull life
John and Ruth Boddy and Esta Clark

Thinking of the williams family barbara was such a lovely lady

Deepest sympathy to Barbara's family. A dearly loved member of the Rotary District 9940 family. We enjoyed many happy visits to her garden on the farm. Rest in peace.

Fond memories of a warm & caring elegant lady with her delightful smile our privilege to have known you
Raewyn& David lusk

Condolences to all the Williams family sorry to hear the passing of a great well respected lady.Sharon & Wayne Fisher

Barbara cared for her community and through Rotary she made the world a better place.
I always enjoyed a chat with her at Rotary about life.
She was a great guide to me when I was 1st President.
She will be missed.