Barbara Ann Malson

Just before day break January 31, 2016 the world lost a gentle and radiant soul. The sun shone bright all day in reverence of her warmth and beauty inside and out. Barbara was born in Erie, Pennsylvania the oldest daughter of Florence and Howard Westman. Her little sister recalls fond childhood memories of daily picnics and frolic on the beaches of Lake Erie, Saturdays sitting on the curb in front of the church a few blocks from their home watching the brides and dreaming of prince charming, and Barbara always looking after her and keeping her out of trouble.

In 1953, Barbara's family moved to Cuyahoga Falls where her mom worked at Stutzmans grocery and her father was an optician at Snodgrass Optical. As a teenager Barbara was a popular girl who was always very creative and excelled in art classes. She met her prince charming, the gregarious Dick Malson, at Cuyahoga Falls High School and it was love at first sight. As the story goes, Dick used to wait for the beautiful "Barbara Ann" to come home every night just to see her, even when she was on other dates. One of their favorite past times was dancing"she and Dick loved swinging to the Jitterbug. Barbara graduated from high school in 1958 and went on to Dental Assistant School before marrying Dick and starting a family.

Barbara and Dick loved to travel and share their adventures with those close to them. She had an incredible affection for animals, shopping, fashion and decorating, and was often referred to endearingly as a "glamour girl." Whether you ran into Barbara at the grocery store, in the high school bleachers or at a charity event, she'd always be sporting her signature red lipstick, large sunglasses, perfectly styled hair and a splash of animal print"a chic elegance all her own.

Barbara has called Hudson home for over 40 years raising her three children and supporting Dick while he grew the family business, Ramco Specialties, Inc. Long standing members of the community, Barbara and Dick have been involved in Hudson activities with their children and their business for decades. When her family was young you would find her after school on the peewee football sidelines every night observing her sons Rick and Scott practice as she performed her Cheer mom duties with her daughter, Tracey. In fact, rumor has it she never missed a practice. Barbara volunteered with Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, local 4-H groups, worked for Welcome Wagon and was head of the local Republican Women's Committee for a while. She and Dick are known in Hudson for their dedication to the Hudson Community and Hudson Local School district. The level of Barb and Dick's love and commitment to the City of Hudson is evident through their recent gifts to the community and Hudson Athletics. Scott Malson Stadium, Malson Memorial Gardens at Memorial Stadium and The Malson Athletic Center truly showcase the couple's generosity and passion for giving back to the community that has given them so much. In the fall of 2014, Barbara and Dick were inducted into the Hudson High School Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of their incredible dedication and commitment.

Warm smile, big heart, old soul, generous and sweet. Feisty, family-oriented, tender and welcoming. These are just a few of the recurring themes in Barbara's life melody. Family and friends speak often of her kind nature, inviting smile and sparkling brown eyes. Grandchildren remember her always hugging them goodbye and whispering, "I miss you already," just as she would loosen her embrace. She had an incredible gift for making you feel like family from the very moment you met and touching your heart with a warmth, a gift, which dawdles with you forever.

Barb's greatest joy and most precious achievement was her family. She was a true matriarch, quiet and strong, allowing nothing to stand in her way when it came to those she called hers. Preceded in death by her husband Dick and her son Scott (Sue), Barbara's incredible legacy of love lives on with sister Janice Hagaman (James Robinson); daughter Tracey New (Scott); son Rick (Ellen); grandchildren Matthew (Clarice), Bethany (Andrew Coppens) and Stephanie Berger, Jessie, Ricky and Joanna Malson, Tyler, Brock and Logan Malson; great grandson Cruise Coppens; and countless other dear relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Friday, February 5 at 11 a.m. at Western Reserve Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 516 W. Streetsboro Street, Hudson. Entombment will follow at Northlawn Memorial Gardens, 4724 State Road, Peninsula 44264. Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, February 4 at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Barbara Malson to PAWSibilities, Humane Society of Greater Akron, 7996 Darrow Road #30, Twinsburg, OH 44087.