Barbara Backman Tolle, 71, broke many hearts when she passed away December 4 at home in Murrieta, CA, after an aortic aneurysm. She will be greatly missed by friends and family from Southern California to the suburbs of Chicago. Barbara was not only an accomplished, organized businesswoman, she was humble, kind and generous, taking countless people and pets under her gentle wing. In 1984, Barbara helped run water sports in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She worked 23 years for Hughes Aircraft, most prominently as a program manager for Spectrolab who supervised employees and negotiated major contracts. When she retired in 2003, she operated a consulting firm for small businesses for seven years, taught business classes at the University of Redlands and substituted for teachers in Temecula public schools. She especially enjoyed teaching high school journalism. Barbara was born July 31, 1948 in Oak Park, IL to Loretta H. and John W. Backman. She earned academic honors at Oak Park River Forest High School, along with learning violin and ballet and enjoying such sports as ice-skating, gymnastics, tennis and swimming. At Michigan State University, she studied journalism, political science and four languages, intending to become a foreign news correspondent. Daunted by that field's glass ceiling, she shifted gears into business. After earning her MBA from UCLA, she rose into male-dominated positions at Hughes. At Hughes, Barbara fell in love with another manager, Russell Tolle, whom she married Oct. 17, 1987. They lived in Westchester and Santa Clarita before retiring to Murrieta. Having no children together, they adopted and tended several dogs, and Barbara wrote stories about the adventures of these precious members of her family. Barbara previously married and divorced Robert Daley. As a leader among amateur women golfers in Riverside and San Diego counties, Barbara knew countless women -- and their families -- by name. For 15 years, her mentoring strengthened the membership and budget of Temecula Creek Inn Women's Golf Club. With kindness and a positive approach, she emphasized inclusivity, professional accounting and adaption to the digital age. Barbara's other interests include music, sewing, home decorating, entertaining, balanced news, literature, photography and travel. Every other year since 1975, there were family vacations at the same inn in Estes Park. These were highlights for Barbara and she never missed a single trip. Barbara's survivors include Russell Tolle, siblings Kenneth (Vickie) of Omaha; Julie (Bruce) Specht, Galena, IL; Steven (Gloria), Forest Park, IL; 2 stepchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; and countless close friends. A celebration of life will be held in on February 29, 2020 at England Family Mortuary (27135 Madison Ave. Temecula, CA 92590) at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to "Animal Friends of the Valleys" 33751 Mission Trail Wildomar, CA 92595 animalfriendsofthevalleys.com