Remembering the life of Barstow's Donna Sluder

Before her recent passing, Donna Catherine Gilliland Sluder left her legacy in the hearts and minds of many in the High Desert.

During her nearly 73 years in Barstow, Sluder worked as a clerk at the Santa Fe Diesel shop, was one of the first employees at Barstow Community College, served as a legal secretary, and was elected city clerk.

Her family said that the 95-year-old Sluder died in the early morning of Jan. 27 at her home at Whispering Winds assisted living in Apple Valley.

They described Sluder as a hard worker, dedicated public servant, wonderful mother, and grandmother who was called “Mamaw” by all her grandchildren.

She would recite poems and sing songs to the little ones as she rocked them in her arms. She would often sing “You Are My Sunshine” and “I Love You a Bushel and a Peck,” her family said.

The Bushel and a Peck song would later become her theme song and was usually sung to everyone who visited her in her final days.

“She will be greatly missed by every one of her family and friends as she leaves a legacy of love,” her family said.

Chapel and graveside services for Sluder are scheduled at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 13 at Mead Mortuary, 36930 Irwin Road in Barstow.

From Indiana to Barstow

Sluder was born to John William Gilliland and Effie Coleman Meade in their family home in Beech Grove, Indiana, on June 23, 1927.

She was the youngest of 10 children and was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

She graduated from Beech Grove High School in 1945. She married Jack Sluder in 1946, and they had their first son, John Sluder, a year later.

In 1950, they packed up their worldly belongings and headed to California, where Jack worked at the Marine Corp Supply Center in Barstow.

The family lived in several locations in Barstow until 1955 when they could finally purchase a new home on Frances Drive just east of Barstow Superior Court.

This became the family’s final home. The couple had five more children, Cathy, born in 1952, Steven in 1955, Tim in 1956, Bob in 1959 and Cindy, born just before Christmas 1964.

The Sluders experienced tragedy when Cindy died just one month later, in Jan. 1965. Her son, John, died in an automobile accident in Oct. 1982.

Her son, Bob, died in July 2022. She also lost two great-grandchildren, Bradley Brinkerhoff, in 2013 and Haley Bury in 2020.

Several careers

Besides being a mother, Donna had several notable careers, including working at Santa Fe Diesel. She stayed at BCC until the new campus was built on Barstow Road.

After leaving BCC, she began an almost 20-year career as a legal secretary, ultimately working for two prominent local attorneys.

Sluder retired for a few years. In 1983, she took an entry-level position in the clerk’s office at the City of Barstow. By retiring in Dec. 1995, she had also served one full term as the elected City Clerk.

For the past four years at Whispering Winds, she was a bright light among the residents and was loved by all she met.

“Our family would like to thank the caregivers at Whispering Winds for their loving and dedicated care of our mother,” her family said. “They loved her as much as we did and served her until the very end.”

Donna is survived by her daughter Catherine (Chuck) Ashbrook of Belton, Texas; Sons Steven (Gay) Sluder of Wellsville, Utah, and Tim (LeAnn) Sluder of Hesperia, California. She leaves 15 grandchildren, Michael Sluder-Brehm, Shannon Ashbrook, Clint Ashbrook, Jennifer Rubio, and Laura Bunnell.

Additionally, Cindy Beckstead, Steven Sluder ll, Mary Brinkerhoff, John Sluder, Bryan Sluder, Jared Sluder, David Sluder, Amanda Deverson, Bobby Sluder ll and Ryan Sluder.

She also leaves 39 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Remembering the life of Barstow's Donna Sluder