Barbara Ann Sanford

Barbara Ann Tobener Sanford, 81, of Abilene, Texas passed away peacefully at home on Monday, November 27, 2017 after a long battle with cancer. Barbara's wishes were to be cremated and have her ashes buried at a later time. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri to William Henry Tobener Jr. and Helen Mary (Piper) Tobener on April 30, 1936. Her father who worked for Thompson Products moved his family to Cleveland, Ohio in 1941. She graduated from John Adams High School in Cleveland, Ohio with honors in 1954 and attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. She was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. She married her high school sweetheart Calvin W. Sanford in 1955. The wife of a career United States Air Force Officer, she lived in Delaware, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Waco, Texas; Russelsheim, Germany; Wiesbaden, Germany; Bloomington, Indiana; Boca Raton, Florida and Abilene, Texas. Along with raising four children and keeping the home fires burning when her husband was away on temporary duty, Barbara was active in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Little League Baseball. She was President of the Madison Junior High School Band Parents Club, bookkeeper at the local Muscular Dystrophy Association office, an Avon Sales Lady, a sales lady and floral arranger at Baack's Florist, and a Sears Credit Department consultant. Additionally, she was Treasurer of the Dyess Officers Wife's Club, President of the Garden Gate Garden Club, a member of the Abilene Philharmonic Guild, and the Grace Museum Los Aficionados Club. She was very active in the Abilene Woman's Club, chairing many committees. She was owner of The House of Clocks and Gifts in Abilene, Texas where she was the primary buyer, decorator, and sales person. Her hobbies included gardening, making floral arrangements, listening to music, reading, and traveling. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents William Henry Tobener Jr. and Helen Mary Piper Tobener, her brother William Henry Tobener III, and in 2015 her daughter Susan Lynn Sanford Johnson. Barbara is survived by her husband of 62 years, Calvin W. Sanford, and three sons: Doctor Douglas W Sanford and his wife Elaine Acker Sanford of Euless, Texas, Doctor Craig D Sanford and his wife Ratda Mongkoltis Sanford of McLean, Virginia, and Scott A Sanford and his wife Debbie Newton Sanford of Abilene, Texas. Barbara had seven wonderful Grandchildren: Michael Sanford and his wife Danni Dirkes Sanford, Christopher Sanford, Rebecca Sanford Sartain and her husband Daniel Sartain, Kimberly Sanford, Danielle Sanford, Calvin Sanford, and Annelise Sanford, plus three beautiful Great Grandchildren: Kaylee Sanford, Josephine Sanford and Oliver Sanford. We want to thank Doctor Ne Ning, her Oncologist and his nurse Judy Hudson; Doctor Udaya Swarna, her Cardiologist and his nurse Karen Jones; and Doctor Kevin Finley, her Family Physician and his nurse Julie Sherman, for a job well done. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Abilene Woman's Club General Fund, 3425 S. 14th Street, Abilene, Texas 79605, or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are being made by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene.