Barbara Seeger

Longtime Los Alamos resident Barbara Lee Teague Seeger died peacefully in her home on January 24, 2025. She was 88 years old.

Barbara was born to Milton Teague and Ethel Warfield Teague of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on April 13, 1936. She loved animals, especially her horse Ginger. She attended Arkadelphia High School, where she was valedictorian and a member of the National Honor Society. She graduated in 1954. She then studied romance languages at Rice University, in Houston, Texas, where she graduated in 1958.

While in college, she went on a blind date with Philip Seeger; they were married in Arkadelphia on August 22, 1959. The couple then moved to Pasadena, California, where Phil attended graduate school at Cal Tech. In 1964. The family moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Barbara worked as a teacher in Texas and California. After moving to Los Alamos, she spent several years raising her children, and then she worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory for many years, first as a guide at the Bradbury Science Museum (back when it was fun), then as a tech in E Division at the plutonium facility (back when it was fun), and finally as a property manager in N Division. Later, she became a substitute teacher and tutor with the Los Alamos Schools.

For her entire life she was a tutor and mentor to countless others. She was a Cub Scout den mother, Girl Scout troop leader, Boy Scout troop committee member, Lassie League Softball coach, and Sunday School teacher; she taught the Special Adults Sunday School class at the United Church of Los Alamos for many years. Barbara was small, but she could lift anyone. With constant patience and empathy, she devoted herself to helping everyone thrive, especially those with special needs.

In addition, Barbara volunteered at the United Church Thrift Shop and the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. In both places, she enjoyed meeting and socializing with people from near and far.

It is not a coincidence that Barbara and Philip remained married for 65 years; marriage for them was an active thing, and as Marriage Enrichment Leads, they helped many other couples to create deep and lasting relationships. They made loving fun.

Barbara loved travel and experiencing cultures around the world, while chasing solar eclipses with Phil. She set foot on every continent on Earth.

Barbara loved music; she studied classical guitar, and she and Phil held season tickets at the Santa Fe Opera for fifty years and supported the performing arts across New Mexico. She loved being part of the Showtime Singers and her church choir.

For Barbara, generosity was unconscious and automatic. There was always room for another plate at the table, whether for a friend of one of her children or for a lonely scientist from Siberia with nowhere to go on Thanksgiving.

She is survived by her husband Philip Seeger; daughter Carol Anne Byrnes and husband Patrick Byrnes of Los Ojos; son Gerald Paul and wife Samantha Markus of San Jose, California; son Philip Lee and wife Marianna Křenova of Mlčechvosty, Czech Republic; brother Warfield Teague of Conway, Arkansas; cousin Edward Green and wife Darlene of Jefferson City, Missouri; sister-in-law Marie Rock of Sudbury, Massachusetts; grandchildren Gerald Byrnes of Los Alamos and Lumír Seeger, Otto Seeger, and Anika Seeger, of Mlčechvosty, Czech Republic; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her father Milton Teague; mother Ethel Warfield Teague; sister Ethel Lu Teague Elliott; brother-in-law John Seeger; sister-in-law Dorothy Seeger; brother-in-law Bill Elliott; and sister-in-law Viki Teague.

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at the United Church of Los Alamos on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m., followed by a potluck lunch.

To honor her life, please consider contributions to organizations special to Barbara: The United Church of Los Alamos Memorial Fund, New Mexico Special Olympics, or a charity of your choice.