BARBARA SUE “BABS” FERGUSON
BARBARA SUE BABS FERGUSON Babs was born to Dr. Wilfred D. Whiteside and Tommye Bell on October 19, 1933 in Timpson, Texas. Bright, friendly, sunny and warm, Babs lived the power of positive thinking and going the extra mile to help others. Babs fell in love with Hawaii in 1953 when passing through on her way to Japan, and dreamed that one day she would live here. She held onto that dream and moved to Waikiki 31 years ago. She brought her banking experience to Hawaii as the State's only IRA specialist and was in high demand. Babs had a life-long passion for music. She played flute and piano, winning awards and honors in high school and college. She served on the Honolulu Symphony Associates Board for 10 years and was an avid booster for the Hawaii Pops. She was also a thrill seeker as demonstrated by 37 jumps as a sky diver. She had pizzazz! She may be best known as "The Swan Lady" who raised "Bebe" from a little chick rejected by its mother to glorious adulthood. She fed, cared for, loved, and was loved by the swans at her Waipuna home for decades. She is also well known for her little companion, "Tweety", a cockatiel who accompanied her on walks along the beach at sunset or shopping at Macys and the Apple store. Her favorite poem was Longfellow's "Psalm of Life" which she learned by heart in high school and used as the pattern for her life. "Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime, and departing leave behind us footprints on the sand of time; footprints that perhaps another sailing o'er life's solemn main, a forlorn and shipwrecked brother, seeing shall take heart again." She left a trail of joy. Babs passed away at home on December 24, 2015 after a brief illness. As a last act of giving, she donated her body to the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine. Per her wishes, a private service will be held at a later date. Gifts in her memory may be sent to Hawaii Pops, P.O. Box 25037, Honolulu, HI 96825.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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