Barbara Beach, 91, of Santa Paula, CA passed away on Aug. 29, 2026
Barbara was born in St. Joseph, MI to Wilfred and Lucy (Makeham) Bond.
She went to St. Joseph High School, was an Honor Student, sang in the school choir and belonged to several clubs. She graduated in 1952. She went on to college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and earned a degree in education.
She began her teaching career as a high school English teacher and her final position before retirement was as a middle school special education teacher. She was fluent in Spanish which she used in her classroom. She enjoyed her career as a teacher for many years.
She married her first husband William Robinson in Michigan and they moved to California. They had 2 daughters and were married 34 years before they divorced.
Barbara met her 2nd husband Edwin Beach after she moved to Santa Paula. They liked to go dancing and were very happy together until his death in 2012.
Barbara loved singing and she was in the choir at the Unitarian Universalist Church.
She also loved to travel and one of her favorite trips was to the Galápagos Islands.
She was a member of Rotary and volunteered at the Santa Paula Art Museum from time to time. She enjoyed her neighborhood book club and getting together with friends.
When at home, she enjoyed spending time in her garden with her dog Stanley.
Barbara is survived by her 2 sisters Eunice Leeper (Leon) in Bridgman, MI and Dorothy Belke (Wayne) St. Joseph, MI; her 2 daughters Louise (Mike) Warren in McMinnville, OR and Rebecca (April) Robinson in Chico, CA
One grandson Aaron (Melanie) Warren and 2 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her first husband William Robinson, her second husband Edwin Beach, her brother Robert Ivan Bond and two grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to SPARC, the Santa Paula Art Museum or the Unitarian Universalist Church in Santa Paula.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to her team of wonderful caregivers and to Assisted Hospice.