Barbara M. Herbert

Barbara M. Herbert, age 95, passed away on August 20, 2026 at her home in Boise, Idaho.

Known as “Bobbie” to friends and colleagues, she was born on March 12, 1931 in White Plains, New York. She was the daughter of the late George and Clara Fetzer.

Bobbie’s first love, from a young age, was flying. She started an aviation club while studying at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH. She took flying lessons without telling her parents, then became the first student at Colby to earn a pilot's license. She joined the Ninety Nines International Organization of Women Pilots in 1964 and remained a member for the rest of her life.

At an aviation club gathering in the early 1950s, she met a handsome young pilot named Dana G. Herbert. They married in 1952 and were together until Dana’s death in 1998.

Bobbie always challenged herself to reach for new things. She earned an Associate’s Degree from Colby-Sawyer College in 1950 and a Bachelor of Science in 1980. She enjoyed a career as a certified financial planner from which she retired in 2001.

Bobbie lived most of her life in New York and New Hampshire. Later she lived briefly in New Jersey, Arizona, and finally Idaho.

Bobbie was a force for good everywhere she lived. She was generous with her time and an enthusiastic volunteer in every community. She will be remembered for her active lifestyle, and for her brave, kind, thoughtful, and independent spirit.

Bobbie displayed these characteristics as a teenager when she learned to fly. They never diminished. At the age of 94 she decided it would be fun to paddle raft the class III rapids of the Payette River in Idaho. This time she told her family, but ignored their concerns for her safety. She had a great time.

Bobbie will also be remembered for her cooking. Food was her love language, and the kitchen was the busiest place in her house. She enjoyed hosting dinner parties. She baked for neighbors and frequently left fresh muffins on their doorsteps. When family members took a trip, she brought over meals so they had food to enjoy when they returned.

Bobbie’s spiritual home and final resting place will be in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire. She and Dana spent time there throughout their lives. They owned a cottage outside Sunapee Harbor in the 1960s. In the late 1970s, they renovated a cottage in Herrick Cove and lived there for more than 20 years.

Bobbie is survived by her daughter Lori Hall (Purcellville, VA), son Neal Herbert (Moab, UT), as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The best way to honor Bobbie is to give the gift of flight to young women. Memorial contributions can be made in Bobbie’s name to the Ninety-Nines Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund