Barbara Clausen Theodore
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.spiriBarbara E. Theodore of McCordsville, Indiana, died at Traditions at Brookside Assisted Living on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
Barbara was born in Keokuk, Iowa to Carl O. Taylor and Myrtle Harmon Taylor on December 20, 1927. The family of nine moved to Dayton, Ohio in the mid 1930’s where Barbara graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1945.
Barbara later attended Anderson University (Anderson, IN) and married classmate Paul F. Clausen, an ordained minister in the Church of God. They had two children Karen Kay and David Brent. Paul, Karen, and David all died at an early age from Huntington’s Disease. Barbara served on the National Board of the Huntington’s Foundation and also as the Vice President of the Michigan State Board.
Barbara’s husband sang with the Christian Brothers Quartet who appeared regularly on the Christian Brotherhood Hour, the international radio broadcast of the Church of God. The quartet also traveled with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians and sang for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and guests at the White House.
Barbara worked alongside her husband as a teacher, secretary, musician, etc. as they later served as pastors of churches in Indiana, Ohio, California, and Michigan. As Paul’s health deteriorated, Barbara supported the family as a Qualitative Survey Research Analyst for Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, Michigan for 25 years. Altogether, she spent nearly 40 years caring for her husband and two children who suffered and died from Huntington’s Disease.
On December 29, 2004, Barbara was married to an old college friend, Lee Theodore, who was also a widower. Lee was a world traveler, missionary, church worship leader and teacher for more than 45 years. When not traveling, the couple lived in Temecula, California, until Lee’s death on June 29, 2020.
Barbara’s honors include: Speaker at the National Convention of the Church of God 1975; Speaker at the National Youth Convention of the Church of God 1976; Anderson University Board of Trustees (1981-85); AU Alumni Council for Indiana and Michigan; Whirlpool Most Valuable Volunteer (1987); Huntington’s Disease Society Honors for a Lifetime of Outstanding Support (1986); Anderson University Distinguished Alumnus Award (2004).
Barbara is survived by many nieces and nephews from the Taylor family and stepchildren and step-grandchildren from the Theodore family.
Read more about Barbara’s inspiring story in this feature from Signatures 1987-88.
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.