Kern County CA Archives Obituaries.....Von Platen , Barbara Alice January 3, 2006
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
K T bluewolf@onemain.com January 11, 2006, 10:00 pm

The Tehachapi News
Barbara von Platen

Dec. 7, 1921 – Jan. 3, 2006

Barbara Alice von Platen passed away Jan. 3, 2006 in her home at the age of 
84. She was born on Dec. 7, 1921 in Binghamton, N.Y,. to Bruce and Mildred 
Goodwin.

Barbara was preceded by her husband, Col. William G. von Platen, and is 
survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Candice and Sandy Johnson; daughter, 
Debra von Platen; son and daughter-in-law, Christian and Colette von Platen; 
her granddaughters, Valerie Jones, Stacey Stevenson and Alyssa von Platen; her 
grandsons, Eric Stevenson and Darren von Platen; and her great-granddaughter, 
Holiday Grace Jones.

Early in life, Barbara was a registered nurse at Los Angeles County General 
Hospital. She married William von Platen on Nov. 7, 1942. She and Bill built 
their first home in Tarzana in 1948.

Later, Barbara served her country as a diplomatic wife with her husband Bill 
in Paris, Washington D.C., Saigon and Singapore. While in Vietnam in the early 
1960s, she made it her personal project to rebuild and revitalize the Go Vap 
orphanage near Saigon. She did so by encouraging GIs to help rebuild the 
orphanage, soliciting medical donations from American pharmaceutical 
companies, personally training medical caregivers at the orphanage and by 
making it financially self-sufficient by starting a candle factory within the 
facility. When she left Saigon, Go Vap was caring for 650 children and its 
mortality rate had declined from 80 percent to less than 10 percent. 
Additionally, in 1971 she received a citation from the Department of Defense 
for outstanding service to the department in the country of Singapore.

In 1979, Barbara and Bill finished building their home and ranch in Tehachapi 
that she so loved. She was active in Oak Tree Country Club women’s golf and 
enjoyed gardening and playing bridge. Barbara was well known for her love of 
animals. She will be deeply missed by her family and many friends.

Father Wes Clare of Saint Jude’s Episcopal Church officiated at services that 
were held on Jan. 6 at Wood Family Funeral Services. Interment followed at 
Riverside National Cemetery. Wood Family Funeral Service handled the 
arrangements.


Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to the deceased.
No other information available from submitter.
http://www.tehachapinews.com/obits.html
Volume 106 - No. 39 
Jan. 11-17, 2006 


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