Barbara Mary Roark Williams1936 ~ 2013Barbara Mary Roark Williams died peacefully, surrounded by her family and her little dog Fiddle, on Saturday, November 23, 2013. She was preceded in death by her husband Glenn and her parents James Bryce and Dorothy "Dolly" Roark. She is survived by her brothers Burchard and David Roark, and children Clayton (Tracy), Kendra (John) Hunter, Heather (Steven) Smith, Glenn (Naomi), Terrol (Robin), Meredith, Austin (Deanna), and 29 grandchildren.Barbara was born October 4, 1936 in Boise, Idaho. She spent her childhood in Boise and Lewiston, Idaho. Later her family moved to Spokane, Washington, where she graduated from high school. She received her Bachelor's degree in violin performance at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, where she met her sweetheart, Glenn. He baptized her into the LDS faith. During their year-long engagement, Barbara lived in Oakland and continued to study violin under the concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony. After their wedding, they moved to Edinburg, Texas, where Glenn taught at Pan-American University, and Barbara taught music in the public schools. The first three of their seven children were born in Texas. In 1965 they moved to Utah and began their long affiliation with Brigham Young University. Barbara was a violin special instructor and charter member of the Deseret String Quartet, with whom she toured and performed extensively. Barbara soloed with many orchestras around the country, and was concertmaster of the Utah Valley Symphony for many years. She participated in the soundtrack recordings for many major motion pictures, television, commercial music, LDS media, ballets, and too many musical productions to list.Barbara taught countless students, both at BYU and in her studio at home. While many of her students went on to achieve great success and awards in music, the most profound impact she had on many of them was her unique ability to make each one feel loved and nurtured, and want to become like her.Barbara excelled in everything she set out to do, including music, knitting, sewing, gardening, painting, sculpting, embroidery, and above all, mothering. She was fascinated with other cultures and traveled extensively, both professionally and with her family.She served the Lord faithfully in many capacities, including president of the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society organizations. One of her final church callings was that of ordinance worker in the Mount Timpanogos Temple.One of her many gifts was the ability to find the good in everyone. Barbara was an example to all of the pure love of Christ. We will miss her every day until we meet again.Funeral Services will be Saturday, November 30, 2013, 11:00 a.m. in the Vermont LDS Ward, 400 East 400 North, Orem. Friends may visit with the family from 9-10:30 a.m. that morning at the church. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.walkersanderson.com.We invite all of Barbara's former students to join in playing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" as a special musical tribute to her legacy as a violin teacher, mentor, friend, and role model to conclude the funeral service. Please bring your violin, tuned before the service starts.
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