Barbara Ann Putnam, formerly of Carthage, Mo., passed away at age 93 on March 29, 2020 in Tucson, Ariz. Barbara was born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 14, 1926, to Charles and Daurice Swanson. In high school and college, she was active in drama classes and later, during her fashion modeling career (that lasted into her fifties,) she worked in a number of motion pictures, including Groucho Marx’s “Copa Cabana,” as a Cabana girl.
Barbara married John W. Black in 1947. They had two children and lived in Santa Barbara, Calif., until the couple divorced in 1961. She later met William C. Putnam, Sr., through mutual friends in Palm Springs, Calif., and they were married in Carthage in 1990.
Bill’s large and extended family welcomed Barbara with open arms and she, in turn, loved being involved in all of their lives. She was especially skilled at interacting with people of all ages, giving attention to their areas of interest. An excellent cook, entertainer extraordinaire and a loving, creative grandmother, Barbara was loved and admired by all of her family and many wonderful friends spanning the country from West Coast to Missouri. She was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church and greatly appreciated Fr. Steve Wilson’s Sunday School classes. She was also a regular volunteer at the Historic Phelps House and the Nearly New Shop. Known for her enduring beauty, style, and charm, Barbara was quick to welcome all and celebrate often with a warm heart and endearing wit and lived life with humor and panache. She was truly a beautiful woman, both inside and out.
She and Bill enjoyed eight years of travel and adventure together before he passed away, but she remained in Carthage until 2013 when she moved to be near her daughter and family in the Pacific Northwest. In 2017 they relocated to Tucson, Ariz.
Barbara will be greatly missed by her daughter Cindy Robinson and husband, Gregg of Tucson; her son Jeffrey Black of Hoonah, Alaska; her step-children Debbie King; Rebecca Marsh and husband Dave; Jennifer Kovarik and husband Mark; Jaqui Humphrey and husband Rob; son-in-law Ted King; Bill Putnam Jr. and wife, Cindy of Carthage; Tom Putnam and wife, Rebecca of Seattle, Wash.; John Putnam and wife, Merre of Carthage; Debbie Putnam of Nashville, Tenn.; 3 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 22 step-grandchildren, and 31 step-great-grandchildren.
Barbara’s cremains will be interred in a private ceremony in the Putnam family plot at Park Cemetery in Carthage. Memorial gifts should be sent to Carthage Community Foundation, The Professional Building, Suite 1A, 221 W. 4th Street, Carthage, MO 64836, and designated for “Grace Episcopal Church Endowment Fund.”
