Leslye Martin Barouch
May 15, 2012
By Contributor
Oct. 25, 1922 – May 9, 2012
Leslye Barouch
Leslye M. Barouch, of Bellevue, passed away peacefully and in the manner that she would want to go at her own home. She was, without question, one beautiful lady always immaculately dressed in her skirts, shirts/sweaters, jewelry, matching shoes and purse. That is the way she was and the way she left this world. She waited to be appropriately dressed, leaving in her special new pink nightgown and matching socks that she received as a pre-Mother’s Day gift. Once she was dressed and her hair combed, she opened her beautiful blue eyes one last time, tried to speak (as if to tell everyone “goodbye”) and then took her last breath. She didn’t suffer but was just anxious to see Bob, her husband of 62 years who preceded her in death five years ago.
Leslye Ruth Martin was born in Mexia, Texas, to William Leslie (named after her father) and Estelle Evans Martin on Oct. 25,1922. She spent her early years being raised by her mom and grandmother in Waco, Texas, while her father made a living, ranching and raising Hereford cattle on his ranch in Bryan, Texas, and working in the Pennsylvania steel mills during the lean years of the depression. She had one sibling, her sister Dorothy Ann (Yowell) who was born on her birthday exactly three years later and preceded her in death in March 1991.
She graduated from Baylor University in 1943 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. She taught school in Ozona, Texas, for one year before she met the love of her life, Lt. Robert Barouch, in spring 1944. It was love at first sight and it wasn’t long before they were married and she was off enjoying life as the wife of an Army Air Corps pilot. She was able to teach school off and on, when Bob’s military assignments allowed her to do so during 1944-46.
Her first bundle of joy, Patricia (Pat), arrived when they were stationed in Panama, and Robert Scott (Scott) arrived when they returned to Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, Texas. Bob’s assignments took them to many new and exciting places, their favorite being Madrid, Spain. Their final military assignment sent them to Alexandria, Va., where they lived for 22 years before moving to Bellevue to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Besides traveling, taking care of family and being with Bob, she enjoyed shopping and traveling in their motor home.
After Bob passed in 2007, her life changed. Her health was affected and she became more dependent on her daughter, son and devoted, loving caretakers. With the help of her family and caretakers, she was able to live happily and comfortably in her own home until her passing. Leslye will be deeply missed as an extraordinary lady, wife, mother and grandmother. She will always be in our hearts, as a part of us, and never be forgotten.
Survivors include her children Pat Dyksterhouse and her husband Rick, of Issaquah, and Scott Barouch and his wife Corinne, of Sammamish; five grandsons — Brandon, Landon, Shandon, Travis and Nathan; her faithful feline Tonkinese companion Stormy; and a host of extended family members and friends.
An urn committal will be held Friday, May 18, at 10:15 a.m. at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent.
The family suggests remembrances to The Humane Society or Evergreen Hospice, Kirkland.
Arrangements are entrusted to Flintoft’s Issaquah Funeral Home & Crematory.
Friends are invited to share memories and sign the family’s online guest book at www.flintofts.com.
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
