Survivors
Surviving Spouse Corner: Finding Your Path After Losing Your Spouse
After the death of your spouse, you face countless decisions, including where and with whom to live. One surviving spouse shares her experience.
Barbara was born in Fort McClellan, Ala., the daughter of an Army Air Corps first sergeant. She grew up and attended school in Colorado, where her family moved after her father retired as a colonel. She has been a military wife all her adult life and a surviving spouse for 16 years, and is the proud mother of three beautiful daughters, eight grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
Barbara's last career position was as a financial analyst at General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division, in Arlington, Va. Her family then moved to Virginia Beach, where she cared for her mother for 17 years before her mother passed in 2007. She then went back to work part-time until Dec. 2018.
For the past six years, Barbara has been the treasurer/membership chairman/venue and program scheduler for the Retired Officers Wives Club (ROWS). For the past four years, she has served as the surviving spouse liaison for her MOAA chapter.
After the death of your spouse, you face countless decisions, including where and with whom to live. One surviving spouse shares her experience.
Dealing with grief is never easy, but a new purpose can help you navigate through the pain.
A chapter leader shares insights, challenges, and successes from her six years as surviving spouse liaison.
MOAA offers numerous resources and benefits to assist military surviving spouses.
After the loss of your spouse, you’re in charge of directing the course of your new life.