Barbara Bolton
PHOENIX – Barbara Ann Long Bolton-Wright
BSN, RN born in Phoenix March 25th, 1958, passed away at age 60 on September 15th, 2018 at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center following a long illness. Barbara is survived by parents Charles and Phyllis Long of Phoenix, brother, Alan (Kelly) Long of Glendale, and husband Michael Wright of Phoenix (m. January 2, 2015).
Other survivors include extended family by marriage, daughters, Laurie (Michael) Saban and Kathleen (Carl) Spacone; grandchildren Joshua (Megan) Wright, Leslie Reynolds, John Sitarz, Hope Ann Saban, Carlo Spacone and Jacob Spacone; and great-grandchildren Aubrey Wright and James Wright as well as several close friends. Barbara attended Squaw Peak Elementary School and graduated from Camelback High School Class of 1976 where she was active in sports programs including softball, tennis, badminton, and swimming.
Barbara graduated Cum Laude from the Arizona State University School of Nursing in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Barbara worked as a nursing assistant at John C. Lincoln Hospital in critical care as well as general care areas during her collegiate years.
After graduation, Barbara worked in the Emergency Department of Good Samaritan Hospital (now Banner University Medical Center) for 16 years with additional part-time work in the Emergency Department of the former Phoenix Baptist Hospital. In 1997, Barbara left her nursing career due to illness and later completed a Nursing Re-entry program at Gateway Community College Phoenix in 2006 to continue nursing work at Aurora Behavioral Health (Peoria) before finally retiring in 2009.
Barbara loved needlepoint, music, theatrical productions, and loved to travel. She particularly loved England and spent long vacations there with her parents. She enjoyed travelling by cruise ship. Favorite cruise destinations included Alaska and Russia.
Barbara’s love for the animal kingdom required many trips to the Arizona Humane Society, the Phoenix Zoo, the Wildlife World Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World and the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control shelters. Hobbies included various and extensive collections of ceramics and stuffed animals. Barbara’s highly developed sense of humor and practical jokes will be cherished memories to all who continue to love and miss her.
A celebration of life luncheon will be Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 12:00pm at Aunt Chiladas restaurant, 7330 N Dreamy Draw Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85020. Please RSVP by email to: mx2000@msn.com.
Interment will follow at a later date. Remembrances may be made in Barbara’s name to the Arizona Humane Society 1521 W. Dobbins Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85041 or to the American Liver Society. Condolences may be expressed at www.heritagefuneralchapels.com