11/20/2025
Barbara Ann Pollard
Barbara Ann Pollard, 91, passed away during peaceful sleep in her Odessa, Texas, home on November 19, 2025, while surrounded by her five children and other family members.
Viewing will be at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Sunday, November 23, followed by the Rosary.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 pm, Monday, November 24, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.
Barbara was born in Bonham, TX, to Michael and Lois Dooley on September 17, 1934. She attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School in San Angelo, TX, and was baptized at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Ft. Worth, TX. She married the love of her life, Bill Pollard, on July 11, 1953, at the Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart in San Angelo and was happily married for 69 years until he passed on February 22, 2023.
Our mother was the most selfless and caring person we knew, and everything she did was in the service of others. Her Catholic faith was of paramount importance to her, and throughout her life, she attended daily Mass. She was very proud of one year in which she attended Mass 365 consecutive days.
Barabara served many significant roles with St. Mary’s Altar Society, the Legion of Mary, and the St. Elizabeth Parish Council. She also served as Room Mother for each of her five children, who all attended St. Mary’s Catholic School. She was an officer with the Medical Center Women’s Hospital Auxiliary and was President of the St. Mary’s Home and School Association. In a life dedicated to the service of others, she administered communion to Catholics who were homebound and unable to attend Mass.
Barbara’s home was constantly filled with family and friends. She reveled in the chaos of grandchildren running and playing throughout her house, and she cherished family gatherings. For Barbara, every event or accomplishment deserved a celebration. In her words, she cooked enough for an army, so everyone was fully fed. And, we knew to save room for her famous desserts, too. Barbara also loved to dance. For many years, she planned and organized the annual New Year’s Eve Dance at St. Mary’s. Among Barbara’s many joys were annual vacations to Las Vegas, which, over the years, became memorable family gatherings, too.
When Barbara’s mother unexpectedly died at an early age, she took on the role of matriarch for her sisters, especially Linda, her youngest sister.
Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, her devoted husband Bill, her brother Mickey, brother-in-law Lou, sister Mary, her grandson Jay Gilbert, and infant great-grandchildren Landon and Maddox Pollard.
Barbara is survived by Linda Gail Shannon, Theresa Reed (husband Mark), Judy Rodgers, David Pollard (husband Doug Duke), and Darla Becker (husband Roger); sisters Margaret Windham, Betty Monroe, and Linda Mealer; grandchildren Marci, Susan, Lori Anne, Brian, Heather, Alexis, Kimberly, Tori, Courtney, Ashley, Kacey, Brett, Barron, and Bailey. She is also survived by many great- and great-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Brian Pollard, Brett Becker, Barron Becker, Ryder Pirtle, and Braxton Bickerstaff.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts in memory of Barbara to Catholic Charities of Odessa, 2500 Andrews Highway, Odessa, TX, 79761.
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