Barbara A Trumbull

Barbara Arlene Trumbull succumbed to cancer on August 13, 2022. Barbara was passionate about her career as an Occupational Therapist and later as a Hand Therapist, her family, her church, her animals, and the outdoors. She never stopped reaching for new goals in her time on this earth.

Born on November 3, 1945, to Raymond Trumbull and Ruth (Fitch) Trumbull, Barbara spent her youth in River Grove, Illinois and graduated from East Leyden High School. She graduated from Washington University in 1967, married and gave birth to two children. Though she stayed home with her children in their youth, she remained active in Hope Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Illinois, was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout troop leader, and earned a master’s degree at the University of Illinois at Springfield. She was especially active in hunger-related charities such as food pantries and the CROP Walk, in which she participated every year.

When her children were older, Barbara returned to occupational therapy and eventually gained her certification in Hand Therapy. She settled in Wauconda, where she lived next to Bangs Lake, allowing her to live near the water as she’d always wanted. She continued to exercise nearly every day as she had throughout her life, but swimming was always her favorite pastime, be it in nearby pools or the lake. Barbara decided to “retire” in 2016, but retirement didn’t stick, and she began working as a volunteer, teaching other therapists and providing therapy to patients who could not otherwise afford treatment.

During “retirement”, Barbara found the time to travel on numerous international adventures. She also began quilting and created a quilt for just about anyone who wanted one. However, having beaten cancer in 1984 and again in 2019, Barbara’s cancer returned this year, and she did not prevail in her third battle. Now she is with God and causing a ruckus in heaven reuniting with family and all of her beloved pet dogs.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and her brother James and is survived by her sister Sharon Bucher (husband John). She has two children: Teri Wadsworth (husband Adam) and Steven Sturm (wife Alexis) and five grandchildren of whom she was very proud (Margaret Sturm, Chauncy Wadsworth, Damon Sturm, Jeffrey Sturm and Linden Wadsworth).

There will be a celebration of life on October 8, 2022 at 12:30pm at her church, Barrington Presbyterian Church 6 Brinker Rd, Barrington, IL 60010.

Barbara requested that in lieu of flowers, she would prefer donations to her church or Journeys the Road Home, a homeless shelter in Palatine, IL where you can make an online donation at https://journeystheroadhome.kindful.com/?campaign=1144059 or mail to 1140 East Northwest Highway Palatine, IL 60074.