Barbara F. Materka, a lifelong fighter for human rights and women’s rights, died peacefully in her home on Turtle Creek Blvd at the age of 99, surrounded by loving family in the days preceding her death.

Barbara was a member of the VFA, and SMU student interviews of her can be viewed in our “Fabulous Feminists” ebook. She served as president of the League of Women Voters of Dallas, as chair of North Texas Planned Parenthood, as a board member of the Women’s Council of Dallas County, as co-chair of the Greater Dallas Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, as a board member and president of the Women’s Issues Network, on the Greater Dallas Community Relations Commission; and she contributed her energy and considerable organizational skills to the successful fights to end the poll tax and to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in Texas and to various other civic causes.

In her 75th year, she was honored by the Dallas Women’s Resource center at their 75th Anniversary celebration. She received the Myrtle Bales Buckley award from the League of Women Voters and the Maura Award for women helping women from the Dallas Women’s Foundation.

Read her obituary in the Dallas Morning News.