Barbara Anne Burrus Bowser Vaughn Rodrigues was born on January 18, 1941, in Winfield, Kansas, to 25- year-old William Clarence Burrus and 19-year-old Mabel Frances Davenport. Her Brother James Roy was born January 3, 1944.
In 1945, the family packed up all their belongings in their 1935 Ford 2-door sedan and headed to California on Route 66. They lived in a trailer until 1949, when their grandmother Frances Maude Rogers Davenport helped Bill and Mabel buy their first home at 3616 Urquidez, Glendale (Sparr Heights), near Montrose for $9,000, and that was the same year Montrose saw several inches of snowfall.
Both Jim and Barbara attended John C. Fremont Elementary where they got to see rodeo trick rider Montie Montana perform on many occasions. They spent many afternoons hiking in the Verdugo Mountains up to the hot springs, taking the secret passageway from Urquidez to Oak Circle to roller skate, swimming at the Indian Springs Resort pool, getting penny candy on Honolulu Avenue, and taking the bus to downtown Glendale.
In July 1952, their sister Joan Kathleen was born and was adored and doted on by the whole family. In 1956, the family moved to a larger home with a guest house for Grandma Frances at 610 N. Reese Place in Burbank.
Throughout her life, Barbara lived in many other areas including Gaithersburg, Maryland; Pacific Grove, California; Reseda, California; and Toronto, Canada. She also traveled to Hong Kong; Athens, Greece; Mexico City; and Canada.
Barbara passed away peacefully on September 28, 2022, in La Crescenta, California, surrounded by family, listening to some of her favorite singers Bob Dylan, Sammie Davis Jr., and Axel Rose.
Barbara is survived by her little dog Franny; her daughters Leslie Adams and Liz Avila; her son-in-law Marty Avila; grandchildren Alissa Adams, Ashton Avila and Bogart Avila; granddaughter-in-law Cassadie Jerdin; great-grandsons Emmett and Wyatt Nelson; her brother Jim Burrus; her sister Joan Standafer; as well many nieces, nephews, and friends!
