Barbara Ann Donalson Althaus - BHS Class of 1955

[Tom Estes]

Barbara Ann Donalson Althaus
Barbara Althaus died unexpectedly on March 2, 2023, just a few weeks shy of her 86th birthday due to complications from heart failure.  She was a yellow dog Democrat whose flaming red hair, blue eyes, fiery personality, and passionate energy never failed to make an indelible impression.

Born March 20, 1937, to Lucille Martin Donalson and Thomas Kyle Donalson in Fort Worth, Texas, Barbara was the oldest of three children.  Her childhood years were spent in Glen Rose, Bishop, and Austin, Texas.  Her father served as an Agricultural Extension Agent and later joined his brother in the dairy business in Austin.  While in high school, Barbara played French horn in the marching band and became a class favorite.

In the mid-1950s, Barbara spent two years at the University of Texas at Austin as a Pharmacy major.  She was a loyal member of Alpha Phi sorority through the years.  As her first job, she worked in the Texas House of Representatives for Harold Coley, a Democrat from the Conroe area.  By the 1960s, she was working in Houston as a secretary for Buddy (Herman Arthur) Bornefeld, a life-long friend of George P. Mitchell and member of the Mitchell Energy Board of Directors.  She bred white German Shepherd puppies on the side.

Barbara married three times, but her marriage to Dudley Althaus in 1969 broadened her horizons for twenty-two years.  They lived on the Charley (Carl) Althaus heritage ranch near Willow City, Texas, on property adjacent to Dudley’s parents.  She helped care for her in-laws and pursued her interest in genealogical research, including the Althaus family.  She was active in the Ephraim Andrews Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and later served as State Parliamentarian.  She researched the history of Kyle, Texas, particularly the 1850 Claiborne Kyle Log House, home of her forebearers from Tennessee.  One of her proudest achievements was rehabilitating the Althaus ranch’s abandoned rock/log house built nearly a century earlier.

During the 1970-80s, Barbara and Dudley worked together to make Althaus Acres a hub for real estate, auctions, travel, and retail furniture sales in nearby Fredericksburg.  Dudley became certified as an auctioneer travelling with Barbara across the country for cattle, estate, and antique sales. He was active in state and national organizations promoting ranching, Angus cattle breeding, auctioneering, and banking.  Barbara and Dudley were honored as the “First Lady and President” of the National Auctioneers Association.   Barbara often marveled that she and Dudley traveled the world leading tour groups of locals to destinations across Europe, Australia, Hawaii, and China.  When the marriage ended in divorce, their decision not to raise a family haunted Barbara to the end of her days.

In the 1990s, Barbara began a new life in Kerrville where she was active in a singles group at First United Methodist Church.  By 1999, she was living in Bryan with assistance from her brother to complete research on the life of their cousin, Edwin Jackson Kyle, for whom Kyle Field at Texas A&M University is named.  In 2007, the University recognized Professor Kyle with a special award due to Barbara’s research and tenacity.  She organized a grand Kyle family reunion at the Alumni Center in celebration. In 2011, Barbara’s proudest achievement came to fruition in her book, KyleTough: The Saga of Texas A&M’s Rise to Power in Athletics and Agriculture, 1902-1956 which she tirelessly promoted through personal appearances.

During this time, she served on the Brazos County Historical Commission with a special interest in El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail.  She continued her genealogical work, became a Master Gardener, enjoyed good times with friends, and treasured her next-door neighbors, Peggy and Jay Page, whose deaths three months earlier shattered her world.  Despite her final years living alone and struggling with the vagaries of poor health, she rarely complained.  When asked, she felt “free as a bird,” amazed at living another day basking in sunshine as she tended her front yard.

Barbara is survived by her brother, Tom, and wife Eva, of Sugar Land, Texas and her niece, Celeste Coppinger Carlton of Georgetown, Texas.  She was predeceased by her parents, younger sister Frances, and ex-husband Dudley Nolin Althaus.  No services are planned, but donations may be made in her memory to Hospice Brazos Valley (https://www.hospicebrazosvalley.org/) or a charity of your choice.