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Barbara Jean Tibbitts

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Barbara Jean Tibbitts, 94, passed away on Nov. 30, 2024 surrounded by family. Born on June 29, 1930 in Phoenix, Arizona, Barbara lived a remarkable life filled with love, resilience, and purpose.
Barbara worked at a department store as a means of support and payment of tuition to college. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in communicative disorders at California State University. Her professional journey led her to become an audiologist and a speech therapist, where her compassionate nature touched many lives.
As a divorced mother of three, Barbara met the love of her life, Tom Tibbitts. They were married on November 15, 1980, and together they shared over four decades of joy, adventure, and service.  A talented and creative woman, Barbara was an accomplished seamstress who also excelled in needlepoint, embroidery and crochet. She was a skilled tap dancer who performed in shows and kept active with jazzercise classes until health issues forced her to stop. 
On November 22, 1999, she suffered a full cardiac arrest but was revived through the CPR efforts of Tom and a bystander until paramedics arrived with a defibrillator. After 36 hours in a coma, she awoke just in time for her family to celebrate a true Thanksgiving miracle together.
This life-altering event inspired Barbara to champion the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). She spoke passionately before the Arizona legislature, successfully advocating for AEDs in public buildings, including their offices. 
Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Thomas J. Tibbitts; her daughters Dian Welle (Dan) and Nora Dunagan (Mike); step-children Linda Maclennan, Thomas T. Tibbitts (Kristen), and Cinde Nickelson; 14 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her sons, Mitchell Lee Kirkwood and infant Jay.
A celebration of Barbara’s life was held at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church, Sun City West on January 24th. Donations in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association.

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