- Date Of Birth: September 14, 1934
- Date Of Death: March 26, 2022
- State: Utah
Barbara was born in Ogden, UT, in the home of her grandparents William and Dosena Kilts. Her parents were Elizabeth Brown Kilts and Earl Sylvester Kilts. When she was just seven years old, her father died in an accident. In 1948, her mother married Merlin Walter Webb, who became Barbara’s dad and lovingly raised her and her sister Joanne as his own. Elizabeth and Merlin then added a son, Dale, to their family.
Barbara graduated from Ogden High School in 1952. She attended Weber College for over a year and worked at Sears Robuck in the credit department. Then she worked at Mountain Bell, typing out orders. While at Weber College, Barbara met Dale Alexander Leatham at a costume Halloween institute party in October 1953. Dale had just returned from his mission to the Southern States for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was wearing a sombrero and serape and was carrying a cane. Barbara was wearing a Bugs Bunny costume with a mask. When Dale saw her in her costume, he thought he knew who she was, so he would jokingly try to hook her ankles with his cane throughout the night. At the end of the evening, when masks were taken off, boy was he surprised!
After dating for a while, Barbara and Dale got engaged. In the fall of 1954, Dale left for dental school at Baylor University in Dallas, Texas. Barbara stayed in Ogden and planned their wedding with her future sister-in-law Dolores Leatham Kofoed. After his first year of dental school, Dale returned and they were married June 24, 1955 in the Logan, UT temple. Then they moved to Dallas, and Barbara transferred to the phone company there and worked until Dale graduated three years later. Diane was born in August 1958. After graduating at the top of his class, Dale then joined the Air Force and served at Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, TX as a dentist for two years. Nancy was born in June 1960 before leaving the air force and returning to Utah in September 1960. Dale set up his dental practice in North Ogden, with Barbara working by his side as his assistant—first in the basement of their home, and then later in the office building. After a couple of years as an assistant, Barbara was able to stay at home with the children. Douglas joined the family in September 1967 and was diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome.
Barbara enjoyed being a homemaker and serving those around her. She cared for her own children, and several grandchildren over the years. Unfortunately, Dale was diagnosed with cancer in 1982. Although treatments were initially successful, his cancer returned and he passed away in July 1988. Barbara always said she knew why she had Doug because he would always be with her. She lovingly cared for him until she passed away.
Barbara was married for 33 years and was a widow for nearly 34 years. She always focused on her children and grandchildren and was a central part of their lives. She always supported each of her nine grandchildren in their endeavors. She consistently wrote letters to each of her grandchildren who served missions or were away from home, often sending them newspaper funnies/comics along with her letters. Each grandchild always knew they were loved by her.
Barbara was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints throughout her life. She enjoyed serving others in many church callings, and volunteering in the temple. She had a strong testimony of the gospel and faithfully studied lessons for Sunday School and Relief Society.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dale, her sister Joanne Van Boerum, her sister-in-law Janet Leatham, and her sister and brother-in-law Kortney and Dolores Kofoed. She is survived by her children Diane and Lynn Childs, Nancy Vause, Douglas, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Dale and Kathy Webb, and her two brothers-in-law Larry Leatham and J. Howard Van Boerum.
