Barbara Bush (née Pierce) was born on June 8, 1925 in New York City. She was the eldest of four children born to Pauline and Marvin Pierce. She was raised in the affluent suburb of Rye, New York. She was a very studious student and was active in many extracurricular activities.
At age sixteen, she met George Herbert Walker Bush at a dance at the Round Hill Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. After a brief courtship, they were married on January 6, 1945 in Rye, New York.
After George's military service, the couple moved to Texas, where George began his career in the oil business. They settled in Houston and had six children: George, Robin (who died of leukemia at the age of three), Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy.
Throughout her marriage, Barbara was a devoted wife and mother. She was an advocate for literacy and devoted much of her time to supporting charitable causes. She was an active member of the board of directors for the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and served as Chairman of the Board of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.
In 1989, Barbara and George became the first mother and son to serve as First Lady and President of the United States. During her tenure as First Lady, Barbara was known for her strong sense of style and her commitment to family values. She was an advocate for the homeless, AIDS research, and family literacy programs.
In 1993, she published her autobiography, Barbara Bush: A Memoir. She was also a contributor to the Today Show and the Larry King Live show, and was a frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
In 2004, Barbara and George celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. In April 2018, Barbara passed away at the age of 92, surrounded by her family. She will be remembered for her devotion to her family, her commitment to public service, and her tireless efforts to promote literacy.
