Barbara Hayden-Wahl

Born January 11, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois to George and Grenith (Graham) Oldham. The family moved to DesMoines, Iowa in 1935 then to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1938 where she started kindergarten. Her family then moved to Washington State in 1942 and settled in Ridgefield, Washington. Barbara graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1950. She met the love of her life, Harold Hayden during her junior year of high school and they married in 1949. Barbara and Harold raised four children; Debbie, Douglas, Dana and Gayle. Barbara joined Ridgefield Community Presbyterian Church in 1950 with Harold and served as church treasurer, Sunday School teacher, member of Presbyterian Women and sang in the choir Barbara was a member of Junior Women’s Club and served as president in 1958. Barbara went back to college in 1959 and entered the nursing program at Clark College. After graduating and becoming a LPN she worked briefly at at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Vancouver. She then decided to become an office nurse and began work at the original Vancouver Clinic in 1963 in the internal medicine department. In 1968 Harold was transferred to Tacoma, Washington with Allied Chemical Company as the plant supervisor there. Barbara continued her office nursing and in 1990 semi-retired from the office of Dr. Wayne Bergstrom and continued to fill in for vacations and began her volunteer work with Hospice of Tacoma. While in Tacoma, she became a member of Skyline Presbyterian Church where she was ordained as an Elder and a Deacon, sang with Celebration Singers, assisted with the youth group, member of Presbyterian Women (president for 3 years) and fellowship chairperson, She was blessed to be able to participate in a Holy Land Tour with a group from Skyline in 1983. In 1994, Barbara and Harold moved to Cinebar, Washington where they bought 2 acres from their son, Doug, and put in a new home there. They did a lot of traveling and in 1999 celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at their home with over 100 persons sharing in that occasion. Barb transferred her church membership to Westminster Presbyterian in Chehalis, WA in 1994 where she continued membership until her death. While at Westminster she sang with Celebration Singers, served on the Evangelism Team and enjoyed the “Dine Out” group and Mariners. She was blessed to participate in a 3 week mission trip in Malawi, Africa with a team from Westminster in 1998 thus beginning a life long passion for the people of that region and the work of the University of Livingstonia. In 2000, Harold passed away suddenly, and Barbara continued living in Cinebar. In 2002 she married James Wahl in Chehalis. They separated in 2017 but continued their marriage. Barbara moved to “The Quarry Senior Living” in Vancouver in 2018 where she especially loved singing in the choir there along with many other activities such as soup making for the homeless, yoga, exercise class and chapel. She was always making friends. Barbara never met a stranger. She began attending Columbia Presbyterian Church while in Vancouver and felt very much at home there. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents , George and Grenith Oldham; Husband, Harold Hayden; Son, Dana; infant baby girl; nephew, Daniel Fawver; Great Grandsons, Wyatt Ball and Daniel Avery and Husband, James Wahl. Barbara is lovingly survived by her daughter, Deborah (Rick) Avery, Vancouver; son, Douglas (Annette) Hayden, Cinebar; daughter, Gayle Hayden, Port Orchard; Grandchildren: Marcus (Veronica) Avery; Angela (Luke) Ball Anicka Hedglin; Justin (Jody) Hedglin; Michaeljon (Hannah) Hayden; and Bernadette (Dimitri ) Hayden; Great Grandchildren: Hannah (Grady) Evans; Aaron (Macey) Avery; Conner (Savannah) Ball, Jessica Ball, Morgan Ball and her Great Great Grand Children, Amara and Koa Evans. She was so happy to learn that a “3rd Great Great” (baby boy Ball) will be arriving in early December. Oh how she loved just watching everyone being together. In lieu of flowers it would be a blessing if you would consider donating to University of Livingstonia through Westminster Presbyterian Church, Office: 128 NW Pringle St. Chehalis, WA. 98532 OR Youth Mission Work through Columbia Presbyterian Church. 8715 St. Helens Ave. Vancouver, WA 98664 Celebration of Life August 6, 2025 Viewing at Evergreen Memorial Gardens 9:30 am-12:30 pm Celebration of Life will begin at 1:00 pm; Columbia Presbyterian Church at 805 Columbia Ridge Drive, Vancouver Link for the memorial service: https://vimeo.com/event/5293081/5a7eee91b6 There will not be a formal graveside service and Barbara will be laid to rest next to her husband, Harold, at the Ridgefield Cemetery.

Barbara Hayden-Wahl

January 11, 1933 - July 30, 2025