Barbara Elaine Moses passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on September 18, 2026 at the age of 77 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Barbara and her husband Tom moved to Charlotte in 2025 to be closer to family.
Barbara was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1948 to Ernest and Ruth Moses, both Holocaust survivors from Germany. The family later moved to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where Barbara graduated as valedictorian from Beaver Falls High School. She majored in mathematics and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1970. Barbara spoke fluent French and spent her junior year abroad studying in Strasbourg, France and traveling (and occasionally hitchhiking) across Europe. Barbara had a lifelong love of mathematics, with a particular interest in how to teach mathematics. After Carnegie Mellon, she earned a master’s degree in mathematics and a PhD in mathematics education at Indiana University in 1977.
In her professional life, Barbara was a trailblazer who made lasting contributions to mathematics education in Ohio and beyond. She began teaching mathematics education at Bowling Green State University in 1978, where she became the Math Department’s first female professor and helped prompt the establishment of a university-wide maternity leave policy. In her 33 years at BGSU, she rose to serve as assistant chair of the Math Department, and in 2004 was named the first recipient of the Bailey Family Endowed Professorship in Mathematics. Beyond BGSU, her career accomplishments were recognized by the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics (OCTM), which awarded her the Kenneth Cummins award in 2009 as the top college-level math teacher in Ohio, and the Christofferson-Fawcett Award in 2013 in recognition of her lifetime of outstanding professional service to the math community.
Barbara cared passionately for her students, and not only those who were lucky enough to find themselves in her classroom. As part of her goal to prepare the next generation of teachers, she founded COSMOS (Center of Excellence in Sciences and Mathematics: Opportunities for Success) at BGSU in 2002. She was the first director of the state Science and Mathematics Education in Action teacher-preparation program. Barbara was active in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics (OCTM), and Greater Toledo Council of Teachers of Mathematics (GTCTM).
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Barbara brought her trademark energy and enthusiasm to the broader Bowling Green community. She held numerous leadership roles including Treasurer of Friends of the Library and the League of Women Voters (Bowling Green Chapter), Chair of the Program Committee for the BGSU Retiree Association, and as board member of the Montessori School of BG. She was a longtime member of Etz Chayim synagogue in Toledo and tutored local Bowling Green residents in Hebrew.
Barbara was also an overachiever in her personal life. In her spare time, she joined not one but two investment clubs, despite having no previous experience, and was never in fewer than two book clubs at any given time. She played Rummikub formidably and mah jongg enthusiastically. She was a passionate fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, IU men’s basketball, and BGSU women’s basketball.
Above all, Barbara was devoted to her family and friends. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, daughter, and friend. She took enormous pride in the lives of those she loved. She was a constant source of encouragement and advice (whether you asked for it or not).
Anyone who met her would immediately recognize her quick wit, dry sense of humor, and fiery personality, with red cheeks to match. She was a perfectionist, and she was never afraid to speak her mind. She worried often because she cared deeply.
Barbara is survived by her husband of 43 years, Tom Hudson; her two children Daniel (Amy Dong) and Rachel (Andrew Harris); and her two grandchildren, Noah and Benjamin. She was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Ruth Moses and her brother Allan Moses.
Barbara was laid to rest according to Jewish tradition at the Hebrew Cemetery in Charlotte, North Carolina with Cantor Elias Roochvarg officiating. Arrangements were handled by McEwen Funeral Service – Pineville.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Barbara’s life at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Simpson Garden (Banquet Room) at 1291 Conneaut Avenue, Bowling Green, OH 43402.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that memorial contributions be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association. Those wishing to share a memory, photo, or word of condolence with the family may do so at rememberingBarbaraMoses@gmail.com or by mail at
Hudson/Moses Family
P.O. Box 93
Scarsdale, NY 10583.
