Barbara Chilcoat

Barbara was 92 years old when she died and went to be with her Lord while in her bed at Sunshine Gardens, Durango, Colo., surrounded by her three daughters.

Barbara was born in Cockeysville, Md., and as the youngest of six children of Elmer Rathbun Haile, Sr., lawyer, bank president, and editor of the Jeffersonian, and his wife Grace Reckord Haile. She lived most of her life in Towson, Md., before moving to Durango, Colo., in 2003, where she lived with her daughter, Debbie, before moving into Sunshine Gardens in 2010.

Barbara attended Towson High School and Towson State Teachers College graduating with a teaching degree. She successfully petitioned the college president at Towson State Teachers College to allow female students to wear bobby socks. Barbara received her master’s degree from Columbia University in New York City.

She married John Miles Chilcoat, a long time school principal in Baltimore County. He served in that position for 44 years, from 1949 until his death in 1993.

Barbara was a teacher and served as principal at Lutherville Elementary. While principal at Bare Hills Elementary she requested that the school board replace the outhouses with indoor restrooms. As a married educator in the early 1950, Barbara was required to relinquish her job once she became pregnant with her first child, John Miles, who survived only a few months after his premature birth. After staying home to raise her four children, Barbara taught sixth grade at Rogers Forge Elementary School until her retirement.

Barbara and John were lifetime members of the Baltimore Campers Association and enjoyed many family camping vacations with this group. She was an active volunteer with the American Red Cross and was a Girl Scout troop leader for many years.

Barbara was very active in Towson United Methodist Church where she founded the Caring and Sharing Program, which she coordinated for 20 years. This program provided visits to shut-ins at home, in hospitals, in nursing homes, retirement homes, and in assisted living facilities. She also was a Circle Leader, played the Chimes, was a member of the Evangelism Committee, Chairman (along with husband John) of Couples Plus and a member of the United Methodist Women.

Barbara loved nature, gardening, hiking, camping, traveling and cooking. She cooked vegetables from her back yard garden until she was 90 years old.

She is survived by four children, seven grandchildren, and three great grandchildren: Douglas Haile Chilcoat of Orlando, Fla., and his wife Donna, along with their two children, Christine Snyder (and her children Rebecca and Lucy) and Jennifer Burnett (and her husband, Greg, and daughter, Jessica); Deborah Rosalie Chilcoat of Cortez, Colo., Barbara Chilcoat Von Harten of Fort Myers, Fla., and her husband, Rick, and their children Carl, Tyler, and Haley; Rosalie Jean Chilcoat of Durango, and her husband, Mark Franklin, and their children Sean and Casey

The family is planning a memorial service this summer in Maryland, along with a graveside service at Jessup’s United Methodist Church, where she will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jessup’s United Methodist Church, c/o Trustees of Jessup’s Church, 600 Warren Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030.