Those who gave freely of themselves while alive will live on forever in the hearts they filled with love.
Obituary
Though she waged a spirited war against ovarian cancer, Barbara Sue Grubb passed away on the morning of February 28th, 2026 at the age of 68. She was the first born of Alfred Chester Grubb and Betty Arlene Grubb, soon followed by her two younger brothers, George and Jay. Born and raised in Albany Oregon, Barb was small but mighty in spirit and demeanor.
Though she worked continuously from the age of 14, Barb would find an outlet for her untampered compassion in medicine and patient care. Starting in dialysis and working her way up into clinical management, Barb spent her career prioritizing the wellbeing of the patients and staff in her care. She was a gifted mentor and spent countless hours assisting those around her to reach higher. Many will fondly remember the unique cadence of her heeled footsteps clacking up and down the hallways, always in motion with somewhere to be.
In what little free time she allowed herself, Barb liked to run; she completed a half marathon after the age of 50! Camping was a childhood pastime she brought with her into her adult life, loving being outside and on a hike. Her rebellious spirit lead her on many adventures, with friends and family as well as on her own. In 2019 she walked the length of El Camino de Santiago, conquering the hight of the French/Spanish Pyrenees mountains in two days of hiking, carrying little more than a liter of water and her can do attitude.
She is survived by her only daughter, Alix and her son-in-law, DJ.
Barb saw the world and the people around her with rose colored glasses. She could always be depended upon to find the silver lining. She could make you laugh out loud without ever trying to be funny. And she gave with her whole heart to anyone who would ask.
Contribution
If you are struggling with what to do, or how to honor Barb's memory before her Birthday bash, we encourage you to add to her Memory Wall with your favorite memories together. And if you would like to channel her spirit, try to make something with your hands. Barbara was a sewist, knitter, and avid crafter and she would be so pleased to see her favorite people engage with their passions and hobbies.
But if it is her giving nature that propels you, we encourage you to volunteer your time. Anywhere, any time, but we can think of no better way to honor Barb than to give wholeheartedly to your community.
Gallery
Memory wall
When someone brought a concern forward, Barb often reminded us to “assume positive intent,” and to try to work together and support one another. She was passionate about helping the team understand each other better, telling me about a book she read or a podcast she heard about, even talked about having everyone in the clinic take The Enneagram test so we could appreciate our different personalities and how each of us functioned best. Whatever she thought would help in anyway.
After hours, at the end of many days, we spent a lot of time just talking, cracking each other up swapping stories about our lives growing up or about our daughters when they were little. I will miss that laugh of hers. I am deeply grateful for the time Barb invested in mentoring me and for the thoughtful advice she offered along the way. That guidance and genuine care for people will always be remembered.
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