Barbara Dutton

Barbara Ann Dutton joined her Lord and Savior in heaven on September 13, 2026. She was born on August 9,1938 in Omaha, Nebraska to Michael Joseph and Coletta Marie Herrick. Barbara graduated from Aurora, Central High School in 1956. She married the love of her life, Bruce Lee Dutton on April 20,1958 at Hope Lutheran Church. On their first date the couple attended a concert featuring an up-and-coming new artist- Elvis Pressley. They raised their daughters in Aurora, Colorado and made it their lifelong home.

Barbara will be remembered for her deep love of family and friends, strong work ethic, infectious humor, sense of glamour and style, and her abiding faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. She lovingly supported her husband and children and later cared for aging parents. Throughout it all, Barbara built a successful career while always keeping family at the heart of her life.

Barbara was also a highly successful salesperson who cared deeply about her clients. She worked for Sarah Coventry Jewelry as a branch manager and ranked #1 in the nation for several years. She recruited 25 sales directors that worked under her guidance. Remarkably, Barbara personally sold over 500 thousand dollars of costume jewelry during the 1970ies! Later she started her own thriving business, “Barbara’s Ad Specialties” which she ran for 18 years.

Barbara was a devoted member of Hope Lutheran Church for 68 years. Armed with her steady supply of “Cross in the Pocket” pouches, Barbara passed them out all over town as a witness to Christ. Her commitment to the community included leading the Circle-to-Circle project, a two-year, $250,000 effort that created a landscaped bike path along Sixth Avenue.

Barbara and Bruce enjoyed cross country driving treks each year to visit their daughters and their families in Florida and California. They also participated for many years in the Colorado Senior Olympics in Greeley and Grand Junction where Barbara won 65 medals for different events. The couple shared a love of country music and enjoyed gliding across the dance floor in perfect harmony.

May we find comfort in God’s promise of eternal life through Christ Jesus and be assured that beautiful Barbara, is safe in the arms of our gracious Lord in heaven.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Barbara is survived by her beloved husband, Bruce Dutton; daughters Lori Oczkus (Mark) and Sherrie Schallhorn; grandchildren Bryan Oczkus, Rachael Oczkus (Brendan McElroy), Rebecca Oczkus (Tiago Bonchristiano), Christine Schallhorn, Andy Schallhorn, and Emily Abraham (Aaron Abraham); and great-grandchildren AC and Sadie Abraham.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Denver Rescue Mission.

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