Barbara Helen George died unexpectedly on July 23, 2024 at her home in San Luis Obispo, CA. She was 82 years old.
Barbara was born to Calvin and Ruth Gabriel in Oceanside, CA. She graduated from Oceanside High School in 1959, received her bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University in 1963, her master’s degree from the University of Mississippi in 1964, and her doctorate degree from the University of Southern California in 1998.
While at Oceanside High School her friends dared her to enter the Miss Oceanside contest in 1958. After winning, she moved on to the San Diego County Fairest of the Fair contest. Barbara was named the student with the “Most Service to School” in her Class of 1959. She was inducted into the Oceanside High School Hall of Fame for Education in 2007.
It was at Oklahoma State University where Barbara joined Pi Beta Phi sorority. She was president of the chapter during her junior year. After graduation she was offered the opportunity to start a new Pi Phi chapter at the University of Mississippi.
When she and her husband, David George, moved to the California Central Coast in 1971, Barbara became the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department for Morro Bay. She was active in the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council and the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center. Barbara also played a prominent role in the development and growth of the San Luis Obispo Community College District, as well as a statewide leadership role for California’s community colleges. In 1977 she started what was to become a lifetime partnership with Cuesta College and became the first executive director of the Cuesta College Foundation. Barbara also served on the French Hospital Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors from 2005-2010, and again from 2012-2015, and was their first Chairperson from 2005-2007. Cuesta College named her a Woman of Distinction in 2005. The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce named her the Citizen of the Year in 2006. In 2012 she was elected to the Cuesta College Board of Trustees and served as their President in 2016-2018. She received the Dr. Frank Martinez Superintendent/President Award in 2012 and the J. Vard Loomis Distinguished Board Service Award in 2019 both from Cuesta College.
Barbara received many other awards and recognitions during her lifetime, too numerous to completely list. She retired from public service in 2020.
Barbara is survived by her sister Nancy Dumford, brothers Cal and Bob Gabriel, sister-in-law Sissy Gabriel, and 20 nephews and nieces.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2024
at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. The celebration will be live-streamed on
YouTube. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cuesta
College Foundation or Oklahoma State University.
