Barbara Ann (Muhlhausen) Pettus

Barbara Ann Muhlhausen Pettus
December 28, 1932 - April 21, 2020 (age 87)

Barbara Pettus died peacefully on April 21st, 2020 at Littleton Hospital in the loving presence of her children and the angelic hospital nursing staff. She is survived by her brother John Muhlhausen and his wife Kitza; her children and their spouses Katie Payne (Mark), John Hansen (Becky), Chris Hansen (Gail), and Rick Hansen (Jane), and her 7 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack Pettus and her parents Edward Muhlhausen and Alice Muhlhausen.

Bobbie was born on December 28, 1932 in Bronxville, New York. She grew up in Larchmont, New York, graduated from Bronxville High School, and attended Endicott Junior College in Beverly, Massachusetts where she earned a merchandizing degree. After college, Bobbie worked in New York City in fashion merchandizing before leaving for Europe and working 2 years with the Counter Intelligence Corps in Cold War era Europe. After brief stints in Chicago and Kansas City, Bobbie moved to and settled in Colorado in 1969 and spent most of her adult years in Littleton as a dedicated and loving working mother of four children. She held many positions during her professional career and proudly retired from Martin Marietta in 1997.

Growing-up, Bobbie established her love for the outdoors and an active lifestyle as a young sailor with her little brother John and spending time at the family beach cottage in Westport, Connecticut. She instilled this same enthusiasm for adventure with her children, taking them skiing in the Colorado Rockies at a young age, riding bicycles, playing tennis, and taking them camping and hiking. Bobbie also took an active role in her children’s athletic and extracurricular activities and could be found faithfully cheering and supporting her kids’ teams in rain or shine. This legacy was inherited by her grandchildren who are all avid skiers, cyclists, hikers, outdoor and animal lovers, beach combers, world travel enthusiasts, and accomplished in competitive sports.

Bobbie spent her last years at Windcrest retirement community in Littleton where she met many new friends and was reunited with many others that also found Windcrest their home. Bobbie married her soulmate Jack Pettus in April 1999, spent 10 years of love, growing in faith, traveling, and adventure with Jack, visiting nearly 20 countries during their marriage and visiting her and Jack’s favorite states before Jack passed away in 2010. Known for her positive attitude and eternal optimistic outlook on life, Bobbie continually reminded everyone around her that “you can do anything you want in life if you set your mind to do it”. She regularly demonstrated and embraced that spirit of positivity, persistence, and perseverance throughout her life, battling and surviving breast cancer, caring for Jack in his latter years, and emerging from her own health challenges with a smile and to a welcoming group of friends happy to have her return to their community with her infectious joy and friendship.

In light of the COVID-19 epidemic, Bobbie’s memorial service will be scheduled at a future date when her family and friends can gather to pay tribute.  

Bobbie’s family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Denver Hospice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara Ann (Muhlhausen) Pettus, please visit our floral store.