Barbara Jean St. John
Barbara Jean St. John died on January 10 from the effects of COVID-19. She was 96.
She was born Barbara Jean Sperry in Saginaw, Michigan, the second of four daughters of Don and Nancy Sperry: Nan, Barbara, Sue, and Donna. She moved with her family to Mission, Kansas, when she was a child, and attended Shawnee Mission High School and Kansas State University.
At K-State, she was a member of Chi Omega sorority and the 1941 homecoming queen. It was there she met John M. St. John of Wichita, Kansas. They were married on November 8, 1942, in a ceremony at her parents’ home. They moved to Wichita, where John worked as a flight test engineer for Boeing during the war. They had three children: Sperry, John, and Sue.
From 1942 to 1960, the St. Johns moved often, living in Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Michigan before moving to Swarthmore in 1960. A year later, they relocated to Moylan, where Barbara lived until her husband John’s death in 1988. She then returned to Swarthmore. Throughout all her moves, Barbara maintained close bonds with her extended family and especially her sisters, who vacationed together at Wonder Lake and visited each other often.
Barbara was an active member of the community throughout her life. Since 1960, she had been a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, where she served on Altar Guild and was among the founders and longtime stalwarts of the Trinity Thrift Shop. She also enjoyed her friendships in several Swarthmore bridge clubs over the years.
An avid gardener, Barbara spent many of her happiest hours working in her yard and garden. She was active with the Gardeners of Rose Valley, with whom she worked on local beautification projects and, later, elaborate prize-winning entries at the Philadelphia Flower Show. For many years, she volunteered at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, where she loved distributing plants to returning students each fall, creating flower arrangements for display on campus, and continuing her education in all things horticultural well into her 80s.
Barbara was a loyal friend, colleague, and neighbor, and a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and great-aunt. She died with her granddaughter and namesake, Barbara St. John White, a nurse, by her side.
Barbara is survived by her youngest sister, Donna Borgstrom of Wallingford; daughter Sperry Lynn Garber of Saginaw, Michigan, and son John G. St. John of Lake Arrowhead, California; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Due to COVID-19 virus precautions, a memorial service will take place at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in her name to Trinity Episcopal Church, 301 N. Chester Road, Swarthmore, PA 19081, or to a charity of your choice.
