Childbirth Pioneer Barbara Gold Dies

Barbara Gold, an Edmonds resident who with her husband Dr. Morris Gold founded one of the nation's first centers devoted solely to birthing, died Monday (Aug. 3) of heart failure. She was 84.

An educator in both the childbirth and breast-feeding movements, she made a popular film, "Childbirth, the Great Adventure," for use in high schools.

"She and my father were on the founding board of the La Leche League, and she was quite a mover and shaker in the childbirth movement," said her daughter Tamara Gold of Lynnwood.

Having had difficult deliveries with her first three children in hospitals, Mrs. Gold thought there had to be a better way, using no drugs and a relaxed setting. She trained as a practical nurse, married Dr. Gold, then prepared thousands of couples for natural childbirth, first on Seattle's Capitol Hill, then at the Lynnwood Clinic.

The 6.4-acre clinic property, 6421 200th St. S.W., was sold to the city of Lynnwood in October and has been renamed Gold Park.

Born in Juanita, Mrs. Gold was valedictorian of her class at Auburn Academy, a school for Seventh-day Adventists. An early marriage ended in divorce.

In 1951, she married Dr. Gold. In 1954, they moved to South Snohomish County and opened the Lynnwood Clinic. She was a founder of the International Childbirth Education Association, and wrote and produced two films for the childbirth audience.

With Dr. Gold, who died in 1988, she had three children

naturally.

She married Stephen Christopher of Edmonds in 1992; he survives her. Other survivors include her children Michael Crane of Marysville; Kenneth Crane of Edmonds; Andrew Crane of Twin Falls, Idaho; Daniel Gold of Edmonds; and Leah Gold of Healdsburg, Calif.; 17 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A life celebration is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday at the family home in Edmonds. Call 425-742-8642 for information. Remembrances may go to Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center (Seattle) Foundation, P.O. Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98105.