Barbara Trumbo

A woman ahead of her time, Barbara Trumbo (née Loehnert) was a Berkeley graduate in the 1950s, a computer programmer in the 1960s, and a departmental manager long before most women held such roles. But above all, she was the beloved matriarch of her family.  

 Barbara passed away peacefully in Tucson, Arizona, on Sept 17, 2025, at the age of 95, after a brief battle with lymphoma.  

Born in Santa Monica, California, on July 31, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Walter B. Loehnert and Denzil M. (Howard) Loehnert.  Preceded in death by her brother, Walter 'Bud' Loehnert, and her beloved husband, Don, she is survived by her three children, Bruce, Dale, and Jan, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild. 

  Growing up in Southern California during the first years of the Great Depression, Barbara was a woman ahead of her time.  Valedictorian of the class of 1948 of the Excelsior Union High School in Norwalk, California, she quickly enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley.  She met her future husband, Don Trumbo--after reportedly kicking a few competitors to the curb--and they married in Los Angeles January 28, 1950.  They both earned degrees from Berkeley, hers in Business Administration in 1951.    Returning to Southern California after graduation, Barbara and Don--with a growing family--took full advantage of the delights of the area.  They planned annual Disneyland trips, paid for with the help of S&H Green Stamps that Barbara had collected.  She and Don also often accompanied her brother Bud, a skilled boat mechanic and racer, in his weekend cruises around the California coastline.   But California wasn't to be her home forever: With three young children in tow, the family moved to Tucson in 1961 so Don could take a position at the Kitt Peak National Observatory. They built a home and a life there, raising their children as proud, nearly-native Tucsonans.

 Barbara and Don were a team of adventurers, bringing the family along to the great outdoors they loved, whether in a Studebaker modified to turn into a bed for car camping, in a private plane she co-piloted, or on one of a series of boats they jointly helmed.  For Don, family vacations were an opportunity to explore untouched and unreachable spots, mysteries of navigation and planning. For Barbara, provisioning meals for five in the wild was a puzzle she solved with meticulous plans, balanced diets based on the four food groups, and an exuberant abundance of fresh fruit.

 As her children grew and life became more relaxed, her vacation priorities shifted.  She focused on ensuring adequate reserves of cookies, salty snacks and, weather permitting, chocolate--preferably See's Chocolates if at all possible.   

 Barbara cheerfully defied the era's expectation that a woman's place was solely in the home. She put her sharp mind and organizational skills to work from 1964 to 1967 at the University of Arizona, programming IBM 407 systems, predecessors of modern business computers, by physically placing wires on plug-in boards. As computing technology progressed, so did Barbara, learning and programming COBOL, a skill she also taught to others.  In 1972, she joined the City of Tucson, ultimately retiring in 1994 as the city's Director of Information Technology.   Far from being intimidated by modern gadgets, Barbara expertly wielded her iPad and desktop computer to keep track of news and neighborhood events. She particularly embraced the role of family meteorologist and air traffic controller, closely monitoring her progeny’s location in “Find My" to warn of approaching storms, impending flight disruptions, or the risk of missed meals.   

Above all, family was the cornerstone of Barbara’s world.  She was an adventurous spirit who loved square dancing, sailing, camping, flying, and even scuba diving, but her greatest joy was sharing these activities with her family.    

When her grandchildren were born, she dove back into active grandparenting with boundless energy. During the pandemic, she initiated the weekly “Family Zoom” to keep her far-flung flock connected, a tradition she participated in faithfully for the next five years. 

Barbara was strong-willed, assertive, and independent. Even as the vagaries of life began to affect her, she continued to maintain her lifestyle at home with an active interest in family (and world) events, directing everyone around her like the conductor at a symphony. 

Her energy and passion will be missed by family and friends.  

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

The family suggests donations to the Nature Conservancy or your local Community Food Bank, Barbara's favorite charities.  

The family deeply appreciates the support and kind thoughts from friends during this time.