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Barbara Lawson Boston

barbara boston
Barbara Lawson Boston, age 66, of Alexandria, VA, died April 28, 2014 at her home surrounded by family and friends. She was born on July 25, 1947, in Denver, CO and grew up on the west side of Los Angeles, CA. She was the beloved wife of Ronald Boston, loving mother of Major (Dr.) Andrew Boston and his wife Paula of San Antonio, TX, daughter of Ruth Lawson of Los Angeles, CA and the late Robert Lawson, sister of Stephen Lawson of Santa Cruz, CA.
Barbara attended University High School in west Los Angeles and lived not far from the UCLA campus in Westwood. The beach was, and remained thereafter, her favorite place to hang out and bespoke her life-long happy frame of mind, regardless of whether the sun came up or set over the water. Barbara graduated from the Washington University St. Louis, School of Nursing in 1969 and began her career as a labor and delivery nurse at Los Angeles County Hospital. From that intense learning environment, her professional interests grew with age to include all aspects of women's health: Lamaze childbirth instructor, certified lactation consultant, fertility counselor, weight loss and wellness coach, restorative endocrinology specialist, and case manager in most areas of integrative medicine. She was one of the earliest Certified Nurse Practitioners in her field.
In 1970 she married Ron, whom she had met in 1967 as a blind date for the Air Force Academy graduation ball, arranged by her father no less who had served as Ron's Academy admissions counselor back in Southern California years before. This "arranged marriage" proceeded happily for 43-plus years spanning assignments from Japan and the Philippines to Europe, and 30 moves in between as she would always remind him when it came time to do the packing. To retain her professional skills amid these many dislocations, she worked in Air Force base hospitals as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner, often under the guise a Red Cross volunteer where the Air Force had no open billets. Ron once commented that his greatest contribution to the Air Force was in helping make Barbara's services available to so many in that community. Their last move was her happiest as it brought them back to the Washington area in 2000 where she had many dear friends and the majority of her professional ties dating back to the early nineties. She was profoundly grateful to these and other close friends and colleagues who so lovingly supported her these past months.
Barbara currently was working as a Nurse Practitioner at The GW Center for Integrative Medicine, Washington, DC, and also served as both a Certified Lactation Consultant, advisor, and trainer for local breastfeeding consulting and support groups.
A Celebration of Barbara's Life will be held on Saturday, May 17th at 10am at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 5114 Twinbrook Road, Fairfax, VA 22032, in the vicinity of Braddock and Guinea Roads.
Barbara had an allergy to flowers, among other things as many know, so she asked that people make a meaningful contribution in lieu of. She would be pleased to know that her associates at the GW Center for Integrative Medicine, where she worked for over 13 years, have created the Barbara Boston Cancer Foundation within the non-profit side of the clinic to provide support groups for needy cancer patients and thus continue the very work to which she devoted so much of her time. Those interested can send a donation payable to "AIM Health Institute", memo line: "Barbara Boston Cancer foundation", 908 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington DC, 20037.
Through this effort and in so many ways, despite a touch of sadness in our hearts, Barbara Boston will continue to be both fondly and joyfully remembered by many.

Celebration of Life Service

Lord of LIfe Lutheran Church
5114 Twinbrook Road
Fairfax, VA 22032

May 17, 2014
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

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  1. Our thoughts and prayers join with all others of our family at this time as we grieve the passing yet celebrate the life of Barbara Boston whose life has been ours to share over the past 40+ years we have had the joy of knowing her.

  2. Even though Ron and Barbara and Andrew did not live in Los Angeles, First Lutheran Church of Venice, California, was a "home" for them. It was the church where they were married and where they returned to worship throughout the years. We know how much Barbara was loved by Ron’s parents and by Ron’s sister Shari and her husband Dennis Jacobson. The prayers of the congregation are with the Boston and Lawson families. Laura and David Rusch

  3. I have always admired Barbara for her persistent positive mental attitude and adventurous spirit. She lived her life joyfully, using her many talents helping others with a caring touch or loving advice. It was a part of who she was. She loved to laugh and share a good joke. She felt it was good medicine for each day! I was so taken by her strength and courage over the last year. It was amazing to watch her face down the cancer, determined to challenge its hold on her body, successfully using the therapies she so strongly believed in to preserve her strength and determination. She stood strong, accepting the fate she faced with grace and peace. All the while sharing her loving spirit with those who cared about her. Barbara exemplified strength and spirit worthy of imitation. She will be loved and remembered as a truly remarkable person, and one who made a lasting difference for so many. Ron and Andy, I wish for you joyful memories to bring you strength and peace.

  4. I’m so sorry to hear Barbara passed away. She always struck me as a very positive, warm individual. She was fortunate to have a loving family and so many loving friends.

  5. It was always a wonderful surprise to have Ron and Barbara join us for worship at First Lutheran Venice when they were in town. The Boston family has far reaching ties to our church family and she will be greatly missed. God now has her safely in His loving arms. Love and prayers to Ron, Shari and all the family.

  6. Barbara will truly be missed. We have many fond memories during the more than decade we were neighbors in Alexandria. When we talked last month she was hoping she would be well enough to meet us in May at our Beach in Sandbridge Virginia. Our prayers are with Barbara and for Ron.

  7. I am saddened by Barbara’s passing. Although I met her only briefly, I well remember her bright, animated, and caring presence. Her memory and spirit will live on in her loved ones and all who knew her.

  8. I met Barbara at a lactation conference over 20 years ago. Barbara was an animated presenter ansd I was struck by her knowledge and expertise. I then got the opportunity to live near Barbara in Colorado and attened Denver journal club and conferences with her. What a delightful person who was always interested in other people and how each one thinks and how we got to the place we are. The lactation community will miss her.


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