Barbara Ann Howell Chaplin, 72, of Boyd, TX, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 9, 2026 after a short illness.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of life: 3:00 p.m., Thursday, April 9, 2026, Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Afterward, join us in a time of fellowship and remembrance 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Spring Creek Barbeque (4108 S. Carrier Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX 75052)

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully request that donations may be made to Fisher House at Fisherhouse.org

Barbara was born September 12, 1953, a twin, to the late Warren and Maria Guadalupe (Chavira) Howell in El Paso, Texas. She graduated from Austin High School in El Paso and attended El Paso Community College. She enjoyed volleyball, softball, and roller skating.

She moved to the Dallas area in 1986 and worked at Medical City Hospital and Nobel Insurance Company. In 1997, she became a consultant for Creative Memories and found much joy in helping people enjoy their memories through scrapbooking with high-quality albums and tools.

She married Clayton Wayne Chaplin, the love of her life, on November 25, 1998, in Longview, Texas.

She was full of life with an outgoing personality--she never met a stranger. She especially loved getting to know new people and spending time with friends. She also enjoyed many hobbies, including dancing, music (especially '80's music), camping, taking photos, scrapbooking, and traveling. Some of her favorite trips included taking a hot air balloon ride in Napa Valley, California, white water rafting with her husband down the Animas River in Colorado, and sightseeing & Broadway plays in New York City.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her loving husband of 27 years, Wayne; her siblings, Jerry Howell and Patricia Howell Elizondo; a nephew, Richard Munoz; and her niece, Jeanette Munoz (who considers her the closest thing to a mother that she had).