Barbara Bush—who was only the second woman in history (besides Abigail Adams) to be the wife of one president (George H.W. Bush) and mother to another (George W. Bush)—died April 17. She was 92.
She had been hospitalized several times while battling congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Her death came only two days after her family announced that she would not seek further medical treatment.
She and George H.W. Bush were not known as staunch allies of the LGBTQ community. However, in 2013, they did attend the wedding of longtime lesbian friends Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen, with the former president signing the new couple’s license, The Advocate noted. Conservatives criticized the Bushes for attending the event.
Barbara was also known for her work with members of the HIV/AIDS community, particularly children. In 1989, when many were afraid to touch HIV-positive people, she visited a Washington, D.C., hospice, hugging and kissing children.
On occasion, Barbara (who championed literacy) was outspoken. Back in 2016, for example, during the Republican presidential primary, she said, “I don’t see how women can vote for Donald Trump.”
Barbara leaves behind her husband of 73 years, George H.W., as well as five children: George W., Jeb, Marvin, Neil, and Dorothy. (A sixth child, Pauline, died of leukemia in 1953, at age 3.)
The Advocate article is at www.advocate.com/politics/2018/4/17/former-first-lady-barbara-bush-dead-92.