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Image: Barbara Bush and George H.W. Bush

In Focus

A look back at the life of former first lady Barbara Bush

Bush, wife of the 41st president and mother of the 43rd, was known as a champion of literacy and advocate for volunteerism.

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Image: Barbara Pierce, the future Barbara Bush

Barbara Pierce, future first lady Barbara Bush, in her graduation photo from Ashley Hall, a finishing school in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1943.

— AP file
Image: Wedding of George and Barbara Bush

Navy Lieutenant George Bush and Barbara Pierce get married in the First Presbyterian Church in Rye, New York, on Jan. 6, 1945.

— Corbis via Getty Images file
Image: The Bush family portrait in 1956

George Bush, Neil, George W., Barbara, Jeb and Marvin in a family portrait from 1956.

— Reuters file
Image: George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush

George Bush, candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, gets returns by phone at his headquarters in Houston, Saturday, June 6, 1964 as his wife Barbara, smiles

— Ed Kolenovsky / AP file
Image: George W. Bush's Family Album

Barbara and George Bush with their four children at the 1964 Republican convention.

— Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc / Sygma via Getty Images file
Image: Barbara Bush

Mrs Bush walks on Park Avenue in New York on April 13, 1971.

— AP file
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Mrs Bush holds the Bible as George Bush is sworn in as the new director of the CIA by Supreme Court Associate Justice Potter Stewart at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, on Jan. 30, 1976. President Gerald Ford stands at right.

— AP file
Image: George and Barbara Bush in Beijing in 1974

George and Barbara Bush in Beijing in 1974.

— AFP - Getty Images file
Image: Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, George H,W, Bush, Barbara Bush

Vice President George Bush and Mrs Bush speak with President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan in the Capitol Building after taking the oath of office on Jan. 21, 1985.

— Bob Daugherty / AP file
Image: Bush Family Portrait

Bush Family Photo Top, Left to right: Marvin, 22; George, 3; Jeb, 26; George; George W., 33; George's wife, Laura. Bottom, left to right: Jeb's wife, Columba; Noelle, 2; Dorothy, 20; Barbara; Neil, 24.

— Bettmann / Bettmann Archive
Image: George Bush Family AT Kennebunkport

Portrait of the Bush family on Aug. 24, 1986 sitting in front of their home in Kennebunkport, Maine. BACK ROW: Maragret Bush (Marvin's wife), holding daughter Marshall, Marvin Bush, Bill LeBlond (Doro's Husband). FRONT ROW: Neil Bush holding son Pierce, Sharon (Neil's wife), George W. Bush holding daughter Barbara Bush, George Bush, Sam LeBlond (Doro's son), Doro Bush LeBlond, George P.

— Reuters file
Image: George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush

President George H.W. Bush, second from right, and first lady Barbara Bush, second from left, joined by Jack Valuate, left, president of the Motion Picture Association of America and Gene Jankowski, the new chairman of the American Film Institute, sing "God Bless America," on Sept. 27, 1983, in Washington, D.C. The president and first lady were on hand for the star-studded 25th anniversary of the American Film Institute.

— Dennis Cook / AP file
Image: First lady Barbara Bush holds the bible for her husband George Bush as he is sworn into office

First lady Barbara Bush holds the bible for her husband George Bush as he is sworn into office as the 41st president of the United States by Chief Justice William Rehnquist outside the west front of the Capitol on Jan. 20, 1989.

— Bob Daugherty / AP file
Image: George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush

President George Bush admires the Harry S. Truman Award for distinguished service that first lady Barbara Bush received from the Association of Community and Junior Colleges at their convention in Washington on March 30, 1989.

— Barry Thumma / AP file
Image: George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush

President Bush and first lady Barbara Bush wave to U.S Marines at the desert encampment during a Thanksgiving visit to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 22, 1990.

— J. Scott Applewhite / AP file
Image: Barbara Bush with Millie the dog

Mrs Bush plays with her dog Millie at a beach in Florida.

— AP file
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Former first lady Barbara Bush visits the Queens Borough Public Library in Jamaica, which presented a theater performance for children, Sept. 4, 1991.

— Ed Bailey / AP file
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First lady Barbara Bush looks out over Hopi Point during her first visit to the Grand Canyon, April 13, 1991. Mrs. Bush was at the Canyon to kick off celebration for the 75th anniversary of the National Park Service.

— Jeff Robbins / AP file
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First lady Barbara Bush, center, laughs and chats with Louisiana State University students as they receive their doctorate degrees in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on May 21, 1992. Mrs. Bush was given an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letter's and spoke to the graduates at the spring commencement ceremonies.

— Bill Haber / AP file
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First Lady Barbara Bush and her son George W. Bush attend the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston on Aug. 17, 1992.

— Chris Wilkins / AFP - Getty Images file
Image: Barbara Bush

Barbara Bush laughs with her son, Republican Florida Governor Jeb Bush and his wife, Columba, while former President George Bush takes a phone call in their Miami, Florida hotel room, while awaiting election results on Nov. 5, 2002.

— Joe Burbank / Pool via Getty Images file
Image: Barbara Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton

First lady Barbara Bush, along with her dog Millie, escorts First lady-to-be Hillary Rodham Clinton into the White House in Washington on Nov. 19, 1992. Mrs. Bush gave Mrs. Clinton a tour of what will be her new home on January 20 upon the inauguration of President-elect Bill Clinton.

— Ron Edmonds / AP file
Image: George W. Bush, Queen Elizabeth II, Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, George H.W. Bush, Prince Philip

From left, first lady Laura Bush, President George W. Bush, Queen Elizabeth II, former first lady Barbara Bush, former President George H.W. Bush, and Prince Philip pose for photographs before the start of a dinner at the British Embassy in Washington on on May 8, 2007.

— Evan Vucci / AP file
Image: Barbara Bush and George H.W. Bush

Former President George Bush, embraces Mrs Bush after she introduced the former president at the Genesis Women's Shelter Mother's Day Luncheon in Dallas on May 3, 2006. The Bushes were the featured speakers at the event.

— Tony Gutierrez / AP file
Image: Barack Obama, Barbara Bush

President Barack Obama and Barbara Bush at the dedication of the George W. Bush presidential library on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas on April 25, 2013.

— Charles Dharapak / AP file
Image: Former first lady Barbara Bush throws out first pitch before NLCS Game 4 in Houston.

Barbara Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch to start Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, between the Houston Astros and the St. Louis Cardinals in Houston on Oct. 17, 2004.

— Robert Galbraith / Reuters file
Image: Barbara Bush

Former first lady Barbara Bush listens to a patient's question during a visit to the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine on Aug. 22, 2013. Bush read a children's book and introduced the patients to her dog during the visit.

Related: Barbara Bush dies at 92

— Robert F. Bukaty / AP file
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