Houchen, Barbara

Barbara Pickett (George)
PO Box 1114
Ashdown, AR 71822-8932

(870) 898-8804

rwithem@hotmail.com

George and Dianne were married for 47 years before Dianne (Simmons) passed away in 2010.  Barbara and Bobby Withem were married 50 years before he passed away in 2009.

Barbara wrote:  George and I had coffee at McDonalds in January, 2011.  Four months later I spoke to him at the post office.  He worked in Elgin, Texas and was driving back and forth to Ashdown.  We talked a lot on the phone while he was in Texas, marathon calls.  George asked me to marry him in January, 2012.  We were married in May 2012.  George and I weren't looking to ever marry againbut somehow you never realize what tomorrow will bring or how it will change your life.  We enjoy being together, traveling and working on our homes.  I have tryly been blessed to have aman such as George come into my life.  We're happy and to find someone to spend our lifes with is priceless.  George says the words I express are his also.  George misses Dianne and I miss Bobby but we know God gave us a second chance to be happy and for that we are grateful.

Prior to the 2008 reunion, Barbara submitted the following for the class web site.

After Graduation I married classmate Bobby Withem  (December 1958) and 6 months later traveled to Japan to join Bobby while he was stationed there with the US Army.
     Our daughter Cheryl was "made in Japan" and our son Kelly was born in California.  I lived as an Army wife for 20 years seeing a great many states and overseas tours in Japan and Okinawa. 
     When Bobby retired from the Army in 1978, we returned to Ashdown and built our home.  I worked as a nanny in our home for many years and then was employed in the infant room of several daycares in Ashdown and Texarkana.  I have a lot of memories of my babies and their parents.  Bobby worked for Little River County as an Appraiser for 20 years and when he retired in 1999 I decided to retire also. 
    I enjoy our family and friends and especially our four grandchildren, Christopher (22), Brain (20), Sean (16) and Marisa (14).  I also enjoy four wheeling, crossword puzzles, reading, movies, traveling and bowling.  I love to bake and I am known as the "cookie lady". 
     In December 08 we will celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary with a trip to Maine, New York and Niagara Falls.  We are going to Branson, Mo. in July 08 to meet with some friends from North Carolina that we met while stationed in Okinawa in 1962.  We keep in touch with a lot of friends we met while in the Army.
     Our thanks to everyone who had a hand in organizing this class reunion.  We know is was a lot of hard work.  We are anxious to see everyone again.