Barbara Woodbury Laws

Barbara Woodbury Laws passed away on November 13 at the age of 85 in Wenatchee, WA. She had suffered from Alzheimer’s for the past 7 years. Barbara was born in 1940 in Everett, the eldest of eight children, to Alloyd (Bud) Spitzer, a construction worker, and Bernice Woyach, a homemaker. As a young girl with bouncing, brown ringlets, she was often compared to child actor Shirley Temple. Barb was imaginative and eager to learn from a young age. Her role model was Brenda Starr, a fictional reporter, and she became editor of her school newspaper at Kittitas High School. She graduated as valedictorian in 1958 with a full scholarship to Central Washington University. Her dream job was to work as a journalist at the Seattle Post- Post-Intelligencer. However, plans changed when her father brought Lee Woodbury, a shy co-worker, home to dinner. She was smitten from the start, and he became the love of her life. When Lee presented Barb with an engagement ring in a box of Cracker Jacks, the scholarship was forgotten, and Lee and Barb were married that same year. Three children followed in quick succession: Karen, Shawn, and Kristy. Lee’s construction job took them to Brewster, where he commuted each day to work on Wells Dam. Barb worked as a receptionist at Wells Dam while fulfilling her journalistic aspirations by writing feature articles for the local newspaper. She also began painting portraits, which she sold at the packing sheds. In 1970, at the age of 30, she became a widow when Lee died of cancer. She never fully recovered from this devastating loss. With three youngsters to raise, Barb began a position as a job counselor for Washington State Employment Security. She remained in the role for 20 years, leading training workshops for hundreds of job seekers and leaving a legacy of service and transformed lives. As a single parent working full-time, she took night classes at Wenatchee Valley College, fulfilling her dream of completing a college degree. She also became interested in photography and pursued the hobby with passion, even building a dark room in the basement of her home. While at Employment Security, she struck up a friendship with one of her students, Ken Laws. In 1985, the two were married and built a home together outside of Tonasket in a beautiful valley with vistas of the mountains. Ken passed away in 2015. After retirement, Barb enjoyed the peace of her rural home, surrounded by her beloved books and dogs, writing the family history, pursuing a love of photography, and painting. Alzheimer’s required her to enter assisted living in 2018. Barb is survived by her children, Karen Roth (Pat), Shawn Woodbury (Kim), Kristy Campbell (Rob), seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Barb’s intelligence, generosity, sense of humor, and creativity made the world a better place. She will be deeply missed. At her request, no service is planned. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Barbara Woodbury Laws

April 5, 1940 - November 13, 2025