Barbara J. McRae passed away Saturday morning, November 23, 2024 at the Palliative Care Unit of CVPH Medical Center (UVM).

The youngest of four children, Barbara Jean was born on May 7, 1932 to James and Jeffie Chestnutt.

Barbara married Horace McRae on November 20, 1948 at the age of 16 with Horace's father, Reverand L. E. McRae presiding. Following the ceremony, Barbara traveled alone on a Greyhound bus across the country to join her husband, serving his first tour of duty in the United States Air Force in Wyoming.

Together, they had four children and like many military families served their country and raised their growing family at a wide variety of duty stations across the country and the Caribbean.

After their second assignment at Ramy AFB in Puerto Rico, the McRaes moved to Plattsburgh AFB in 1971. Barbara worked as a childcare provider and by the mid-seventies had become director of the PAFB Child Care Center. Barbara played a key role in the design and layout of the first accredited SAC/USAF Child Development Center. As Director, Barbara and her staff received countless awards and citations for excellence.

In 1995, Barbara and Horace retired from civil service which allowed them to return to their roots in central Florida. They became joyful snowbirds for almost twenty years.

In late 2005, Barbara suffered a head trauma that altered the course of her retirement life. After a three month stay at Orlando South Hospital she flew home to Plattsburgh with her husband and daughter. With the help of Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy, Barbara accepted the challenge of learning new ways of daily living and communicating with her family and friends.

Over the past eighteen years she attended Speech Therapy at Sibley Hall, SUNY Plattsburgh to address her complicated case of aphasia. Barbara's determination and desire to be helped proved to be a big asset for Masters students in pursuit of their speech pathology careers. Barbara's family is forever grateful to the SUNY Plattsburgh Speech Center. She attended her last therapy session on November 11, 2024.

Barbara is pre-deceased by her husband, Horace (2012), her son David (2018) and her son-in-law, Bert Doolan (2019).

Surviving Barbara are son Louis (Theda) McRae, Spanaway Washington; her daughter Barbara (Gary) Peacock of Plattsburgh; her daughter Shirley Doolen of Peru, NY.

Barbara is also survived by her six grandchildren, Galen (Michelle) McRae; Kaitlin (Aaron) McRae Rose; Barbara "Niki" (Leroy) Lobitos; Bryan McRae; Megan (Jonathan) Braun; Sara Doolen;

She is also survived by four great grandchildren: Tiani Lobitos and Hattie, Edison, & Torin Braun.

From her time as a military wife through her long career at the Child Care Center and her involvement in the SUNY Plattsburgh Speech and Hearing Center, Barbara maintained many close personal friends that always had kind words for her. Barbara always had a warm smile and a happy greeting whether encountering an old friend or meeting new ones.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 11:00 am at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home 69 Court St. Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

Funeral arrangements are with the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Donations may be made to SUNY Plattsburgh Foundation…earmarked to Plattsburgh Speech and Hearing Center in Sibley Hall.