Barbara Easterling: key obituary facts
Is Barbara Easterling dead? Yes. Barbara Easterling died on October 29, 2026, at age 93.
Cause of death: Barbara Easterling's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Barbara Easterling known for?
She was an American activist, President of the Alliance for Retired Americans, previously Secretary-Treasurer of the Communications Workers of America.
More about Barbara Easterling
Born: 23 July 1933.
Place of birth: Akron.
Place of death: Washington, D.C.
Gender: female.
Occupation: trade unionist.
Also known as: Barbara Easterling.
Barbara Easterling, a unionist and telephone operator, died October 29, 2026, aged 93.
Born July 23, 1933, in Akron, Ohio, she grew up there and worked as a telephone operator at Ohio Bell. She joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and advanced through its local ranks, serving first as a steward, then as secretary and vice-president.
In 1970, Ohio Gov. John J. Gilligan appointed her secretary of the Ohio Labor Division. In that role, she drafted laws to protect women’s rights at work and restrict child labor. Easterling left the state position in 1973 to work full time for the CWA. In 1980, she became an assistant to CWA President Glenn Watts. She was later elected an executive vice-president of the union and, in 1992, its secretary-treasurer. Her path from telephone work and local union office to senior CWA posts included both public service in Ohio and national labor leadership. Easterling also served as president of the Alliance for Retired Americans. Her work encompassed union representation at the local level, state labor administration and leadership in organizations serving workers and retirees.