Barbara Karcher

Obituary Notice Of Barbara Louise Karcher
Barbara Louise Karcher, age 84 of Alto, NM, passed away on August 9,2014. At the time of her death, she was a resident of the Emeritus at La Villa Assisted Living Residence in Roswell, NM. She was born on January 30, 1930 in Waco, Texas. Her parents were W.C. Dub Brown and Louise Stevenson Brown. She was preceded in death by both of her parents and her husband, Jack N Karcher.
At a young age, Barbara and her parents moved to Brownwood, Texas. While there, she enjoyed visiting her grandmother who had chickens, ducks, cows and other farm animals. She enjoyed feeding and taking care of these animals. A few years later, her family moved to Houston, Texas where she attended grade school. In 1942, her brother, Steven W Brown, was born and she enjoyed helping her mother care for him.
As she was starting junior high school, the family moved to San Antonio, Texas where she attended both junior high and high school. She graduated from Brackenridge High School in 1948. She was a good student and excelled in art and communication. She participated in many activities including being a member of the Pep Squad. During her school years she developed many friends that she kept in touch with until her death.
Following high school, she began working at KMAC radio station as a receptionist where she dispensed information and gave tours of the studio. While working there, she was encouraged to enter the Miss San Antonio Beauty Contest. She entered and was selected to be Miss San Antonio 1949. She represented the city in many local events and later represented San Antonio in the Miss Texas Contest which was held in Port Arthur, Texas.
On April 28,1951, she married her high school sweetheart, Jack N Karcher. He was in the Air Force stationed in Albuquerque, NM so she moved there to be with him. A year later when Jack finished his tour in the Air Force, they returned to San Antonio where she worked for WO AITV as a continuity editor writing scripts and clearing commercials.
A few years later, they moved back to Albuquerque where Jack attended the University of New Mexico and Barbara worked at local TV stations. After graduating with a Mechcanical Engineering Degree, Jack accepted a position with the Lawerence Livermore Laboratory in Livermore, CA as a staff engineer. Barbara began working for Techtronics Inc. in Walnut Creek, CA. They lived in nearby Dublin, CA. While there, Barbara became an accomplished artist, exhibited her work in open shows and was the featured artist at the Danville Gallery.

While living in California, they both received their pilots license, purchased a Mooney airplane and began flying. Sometimes with friends who owned planes and sometimes trips by themselves. One of their favorite trips was to fly to Baja California in Mexico and spend time on the beach with their friends. On two occasions they took a six month leave of absence from their work and traveled extensively in Mexico and Central America in a Volkswagen Camper.
After over 25 years living in California, they moved to Las Vegas, NV where Jack began working for the Los Alamos Labs at the Nevada Test site. They enjoyed their time in Las Vegas and lived there for several years. Upon his retirement, they returned to New Mexico to enjoy living in the mountains and built a house designed by Barbara in Alto, NM.
Barbara and Jack were happily married for 48 years until his death in 1999. He was the love of her life. They had a wonderful life together. Following his death, she decided to spend her time working for a worthy cause and began working as a volunteer at the Ruidoso Humane Society Thrift Store where she later became the manager. She also enjoyed being with and taking trips with her brother and his family who lived in Roswell.
Barbara is survived by her brother, Steve Brown and his wife, Kathryn of Alto, NM. Her niece, Jennifer Caporale and her husband, Brent of Ocala, FL. Her niece, Diana Punzo and her husband, Charley of Saucier, MS. Her nephew, Steven Brown II of St. Augustine, FL. Her great niece, Kaydence Punzo of Saucier, MS. She will be missed by several cousins and by the many friends she met while living in Texas, New Mexico, California and Nevada. She was a very interesting person.
A private service will be held in San Antonio, Texas at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Humane Society, P O Box 2832, Ruidoso, New Mexico 88355 for the Barbara Karcher Memorial Fund.

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