Barbara Jean THOMPSON

Barbara Jean Thompson Eisenhower Foltz died peacefully at her home in Waverly Heights on Sept. 19. She was born in 1926 into an Army family. Her father, Colonel Percy W. Thompson, served in World War I, World War II (at which time he was awarded the Silver Star for bravery) and in the Korean conflict. At the end of the war in Europe, Colonel Thompson was assigned to the American Zone of occupied Austria. It was there that Barbara met Lieutenant John S. D. Eisenhower, the youngest son of Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Forces, Dwight D. Eisenhower. John and Barbara got married June 10, 1947 at Fort Monroe, Elizabeth County, Virginia, United States and were parents to David, Anne, Susan and Mary Jean. During the Eisenhower presidency, Barbara served with grace and effectiveness as her father-in-law's representative when called upon often, most memorably when she accompanied the President in 1959 on his historic eleven-nation goodwill tour. Yet despite her official duties, she always found time for her volunteer work as a nurses' aide for the Junior League. During the Nixon administration, Barbara was a vital partner to John Eisenhower during his service as U.S. Ambassador to Belgium. In 1979, Barbara earned her BA from Rosemont College and soon afterwards joined the college's development team. In 1988, another happy chapter in her life began when she married widower Edwin J. Foltz, a former Vice President at the Campbell Soup corporation. After Ed's death in 2009, Barbara devoted herself to her eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Her gentle and optimistic spirit will be sorely missed. Her funeral service will be private. Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home Inc. www.chadwickmckinney.com Burial: Saint Christopher Churchyard Gladwyne Montgomery County Pennsylvania, USA

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