Barbara Ruth Donley Farrell, age 88 of Dallas, Texas passed away on Good Friday, April 14, 2017. Barbara was a wife, mother and librarian.
She was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia on September 14, 1928 to Reverend Benjamin Franklin Donley and Ruth Helen Russell. She held a BA from West Virginia University and a Masters in Library Sciences from North Texas State University. After moving to Texas with her first husband, Barbara gave birth to her only son, Robert Coalter. They lived in Dallas as well as Bogota, Colombia, South America
and St. Petersburg, Florida before returning to Texas for the remainder of her life. Carpooling to sporting events, volunteering at church and making sure there were always some fresh chocolate chip cookies available for Bob and his friends were simply routine. Barbara married her second husband James Joseph Farrell on February 6, 1981. When they married, she was working for Mobil Oil. Travel was a passion as they visited over 20 countries. Planes, trains, automobiles and ships, it did not matter as long as she was on another adventure. Barbara was an animal lover with dogs being the preference. She could make lifelong friends out of any fortunate to have crossed her path. Having been born during the Great Depression, Barbara was the epitome of selflessness. She aided many relatives and friends even while putting her own needs on the backburner. This trait was forged by her parents who felt helping others was its own reward. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband James Farrell, her older brother Willard Donley and his wife Martha Ann as well as a stepson Jimmy Farrell. Barbara is survived by her son Robert Coalter and his wife Laura, her brother Phillip Donley and his wife Judy, her nieces and nephews Cecelia Wagner, Dean Donley, Jonathan Donley and Jennifer Donley Burrell, her stepdaughter Cathy Palluconi and many more family members and friends. A Graveside Service will be held 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 19th at Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas. The Army Air Corps Library and Museum has dedicated their library as the "Barbara Donley Farrell Library". The AACLM's library has cataloged documents, books and digital databases of military history. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be sent to Army Air Corps Museum, Box 632282, Irving, Texas 75063. Additional details available on their website www.ArmyAirCorpsMuseum.org/armyaircorpslibrary.cfm
