The Rev. Barbara Jeanne DeVall Worthington of Freeland died June 6, 2009 in Seattle of complications from breast cancer.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, the Rev. John V. Worthington; son, Mark F. Worthington (Amy); daughters Elizabeth J. Roehrig (Tom) and Katherine A. Haworth (Michael); and five grandchildren: Haylie, Evan and Matthew Roehrig; Ethan Haworth; and Kyle Worthington.

Barbara was born in Los Angeles, Calif. on Aug. 7, 1936, the daughter of Lester Shields DeVall and Aileen May Mitchell. After graduating from Occidental College, she received M.A. and B.D. degrees from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1962 and 1964.

She was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1979 and became the assistant pastor of the College Park Presbyterian Church, San Diego. She served the Presbytery of San Diego as an associate for mission and acting executive Presbyter and was the interim executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of San Fernando. In 1990 became the executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of the Palisades in northeastern New Jersey. She retired in 2003, and she and John moved to Mutiny Bay on Whidbey Island. In 2007 she and John served the Langley United Methodist Church on Whidbey Island as temporary co-pastors.

Barbara’s service to the church was extensive. In San Diego she was instrumental in the organization of the Mira Mesa Presbyterian Church beginning in 1972. She did the basic development work that led to the opening of the Mira Mesa Presbyterian Church Preschool in 1977.

She guided social and mission ministries of the Presbytery of San Diego during the 1980s and was active in ecumenical ministries in San Diego County for women and families and undocumented workers.

In the Presbyterian Church (USA), Barbara had leadership roles in the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii and the Synod of the Northeast. She was a commissioner to the 1982 General Assembly and served on task forces for the Board of Pensions and Southeast Asian Ministries. She was a member and moderator of the national Mission Development and Resources Committee. She also served several terms on the Alumni Council of San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Barbara enjoyed time with her children and grandchildren and was proud of their accomplishments. She was a member of the Happy Hookers in Freeland and had become an accomplished primitive rug hooker. She enjoyed a South Whidbey book club and belonged to Chapter GJ of P.E.O. She traveled extensively among the churches of southeast Asia and traveled with John in Europe, Russia and China.

God blessed Barbara with extraordinary skills of administration which she used in her ordained ministry. She blessed her family and churches in her care with her love and compassion. Her death comes too early for us all.

Gifts in her memory may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure or to ministries of the churches of the Presbyterian Church (USA).