Barbara Patricia Close

passed away in her sleep on October 7, 2021, at the age of 93 years in her beloved family home in Clearlake. While she was in failing health recently, she passed with her signature wit, intelligence, devotion to the Divine, and love of family firmly in the forefront of her mind. Barbara was born in the Great Depression on June 24, 1928, in San Francisco, California, to Mildred Irene (Bush) and Wallace Edward Groom. She was raised in Burlingame, California. She excelled in school as a child and developed a love of reading while a resident of a tuberculosis preventorium. When she left the preventorium after two years, she returned to public schools, significantly advanced academically over her peers. Barbara graduated from high school at the age of 16 years, and went on to work and attend San Francisco State College as a music major.

Barbara met and married Jerome Stacy Close while at college. Together they raised four children: Melanie (Charles) of Kelseyville, CA, Daniel (Valerie) of Eugene, OR, Steven (Patricia) of Portland OR, and Robin of Las Vegas, NV. Barbara was a consummate mother, totally involved in her children. She was a talented pianist and organist who maintained a love of music her entire life. Between 1955 and 1967, she was the pianist, organist and choir director for Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Saratoga, CA.

Barbara and Jerome divorced in 1969. He passed away in 1997. Barbara is survived by eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, as well as the spouses of her children and grandchildren.

Barbara returned to higher education in the mid-1960s. She trained as a nurse and worked in

several hospitals early in her career. She went back to college in the 1970s and received a BA in Behavioral Sciences and a MS in Counseling from San

Jose State University, receiving the highest academic honors possible. Following graduation, Barbara developed a private practice as a therapist in San

Jose. She was strongly influenced by the noted gy y psychiatrist Dr, Kris Kringel of Palo Alto, who encouraged her to develop her own unique method of therapy. She continued as a therapist, primarily with youth, until she left San Jose to live in Lake County in the late 1970s.

Barbara relocated to Lake County, moving into the home her parents built in Clearlake in the 1930s as a second home. She served as a manager for the Community Education and Training Program (CETA). It was during this experience that Barbara met many members of the Adidam Community. Over the next 40 years she maintained a daily spiritual practice of reading, writing, small group study, meditation, and service to others. Barbara met many of her closest friends as a result of her long-term involvement in the Adidam Community.

After managing CETA, Barbara returned to nursing, working first at what was then Redbud Hospital and ending as a Home Health Nurse, serving all of Lake County until her retirement at 68 years.

A private family memorial service is planned. Barbara will be interred in the Groom Family plot

at Oak Hill Cemetery in San Jose.