Barbara Mabel Davis

November 10, 1932 - July 14, 2019

Barbara Mabel Davis, known lovingly as "Babs" and "Cousin Barbara," passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 14, 2019, at Heritage Oaks Assisted Living in Englewood, FL. She was 86 years old. Born Barbara Mabel Borgersen in New York in 1932, she lived in Maryland and New Mexico before settling in Alexandria, VA, where she faithfully served her country for over 40 years as the Personal Secretary to the Deputy Secretary of Defense in the Pentagon. She lived her last year near family in Florida. Barbara served her country with honor and was known as an institution at the Pentagon. She traveled overseas with Department of Defense officials throughout her career. She was calm and organized when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon on 9/11. She received several civilian awards for her service, which she would humbly dismiss as just doing her job. Barbara will be known and remembered for her gentle soul, wonderfully quirky spirit, and thoughtful generosity. She was incredibly organized and enjoyed buying bulk quantities of items she would use ("so I don't run out"). Although family members would gently tease her for her big cell phone number on the outside of her handbag ("so I don't forget it"), in truth she had a gifted mind for remembering the smallest detail, and she always thought of others. Barbara was also incredibly grateful and thankful whenever anyone was kind to her, which made her a certain pleasure to be around. A small Lutheran service is planned at Englewood Community Funeral Home on July 19th, 1pm EDT, in Florida. She will be interred at Washington National Cemetery in Maryland, reunited with her parents Henry and Mabel Borgersen, and her cousin Bruce, who was raised like a brother with her. Barbara will be fondly remembered by family members Carol Borgersen, Jan and Sinead Borgersen, Karl and Lena Schultz, and her friends from her Pentagon days. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers at https://pawsforpurplehearts.org/, an organization that pairs wounded veterans with service dogs. Fra jord er du kommet, til jord skal du bli, og av jord skal du atter oppstå. Of earth have you come, to earth you shall become, and from earth you shall again rise.