Barbara Hooten

Barbara Hooten (aka Barbara Ann Bills) passed away at the age of 69 on March 17, 2017 at St. Johns Providence Hospital in Santa Monica in the presence of her close family, following a brief, but fierce battle with lung cancer.

She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Richard Hooten; her daughters Dana Kaller (and husband, Adam), Amber O’Donnell and Brooke Akana (and husband, Matt); siblings Roslyn Koelle, Bart Bills and Crystal Formby; her grandchildren Jessica, Emily, Max, Audrey, Ella, Cole, Skylar and Cooper; nieces and nephews Karri Lynn, Brad, Alisha, Heath, Destiny and Stephanie; her great-grandchild, Noah; best friends since middle school, Mike and Donna LeCuyer; and many other relatives and friends.

She is preceded by her beloved older brother, Richard Bills.

Barbara was born on December 4, 1947 to Leroy and Stella Bills in Vandergriff, PA. She grew up with her two sisters and two brothers in Stockton, CA, spending her youth chasing boys and loading up the convertible Impala with friends for joyrides and surfing in Santa Cruz in the ’60s. After graduating Lincoln High School, she began her career at Sharp Army Depot where she met her husband, Rick, who, with the encouragement of friends, joined her on an infamous picnic trip with army buddies that landed her a cozy room for the night in the jailhouse hotel.

After two years with Sharp Army Depot, she was transferred to Fort MacArthur in San Pedro. Eventually, she moved to the Retail Clerks Union (now known as the United Food and Commercial Workers Union) where she stayed in an executive position for 34 years before retiring in 2003.

Through the people named above and those that encountered and grew close to Barbara, her imprint here continues to be a source of light, laughter and strength. Her name is carried sweetly on the tongues of loved ones who unanimously proclaim “she was the finest woman to walk this earth.”

A memorial in celebration of Barbara Hooten’s life was scheduled for 11 a.m. on March 26 at the residence of her daughter and son-in-law, Dana and Adam Kaller.

Please consider a memorial gift to The Angeles Clinic & Research Institute (theangelesclinicfoundation.org) or Cakes for Cancer (cakesforcancer.org).

The family would like to thank Dr. Lawrence Piro, Joyce, Robert, Celia, the entire Angeles Clinic team, and the doctors, nurses and therapists at Saint John’s Providence Hospital for their efforts, care and dedication.