Barbara Jean Vick, age 79, died peacefully with her daughters by her side on May 15, 2026 at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore.

Barbara was born at Mercy on March 21,1947 to parents Melvin and Patricia Buttner. She grew up in Overlea and Kingsville and graduated from Perry Hall High School in 1965 and Towson University in 1970. She worked as a kindergarten teacher at Joppatowne Elementary School before focusing full-time on raising her three daughters while living in Harford County. During those years she skillfully juggled and supported her children’s many sporting events, musical performances, and other activities, while also actively volunteering for the Forest Hill Elementary School PTA and the Western Maryland College Parents Council.

She later worked for Harford County Public Library, Maryland Committee for Children, and the Baltimore City Public School System. As a school librarian at Steuart Hill Elementary School and New Era/Southside Academy high schools, she was passionate about promoting a love of reading, looking for creative ways to increase student access to reading resources — including organizing school-wide enrichment activities through Enoch Pratt Free Library programming and spearheading annual book fairs — and mentoring students through their school years. She proudly earned a master’s degree in 2007 from Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Barbara loved to travel and made memorable trips to Bermuda, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Montreal, and San Franciso, in addition to taking many bus trips to New York City and spending happy summers at the Delaware Seashore State Park and on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Other favorite past-times included walking nature trails, visiting local historical sites, knitting and sewing cross-stitch, and enjoying afternoon high tea.

Barbara is survived by her daughters Kristin Vick, Jennifer Michael, Lindsay Vick and their father Dale Vick, son-in-law Eleftherios Michael, grandchildren Alexi and Thalia Michael, brother and sister-in-law David and Stephanie Buttner, sister and brother-in-law Cynthia and Jon Schafer, brother Steven Buttner, and three nieces and a nephew. She was predeceased by her parents and brother Jim Buttner. A lover of Cairn Terriers, Barbara is also survived by her beloved fur child Brody and predeceased by her first cairn Cory.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made in Barbara’s memory to the PBS Foundation or the Enoch Pratt Free Library. A celebration of life is planned in the coming months.