Barbara Bush Funeral: Melania Trump, Obamas, Clintons Attend Service in Houston

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Barbara Bush Funeral: Melania Trump, Obamas, Clintons Attend Service in Houston

Former first lady Barbara Bush was remembered by friends and family at her funeral on Saturday, April 21. The 1,500 invited guests gathered for the service at the St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, to pay tribute to the wife of former president George H. W. Bush, who died at the age of 92 on Tuesday, April 17, following a series of recent hospitalizations. Following the service, the grandmother and great-grandmother was set to be buried at the Bush Library at Texas A&M University, northwest of Houston.

Credit: Brett Coomer - Pool/Getty Images

Barbara Bush Funeral: Melania Trump, Obamas, Clintons Attend Service in Houston

Former first lady Barbara Bush was remembered by friends and family at her funeral on Saturday, April 21. The 1,500 invited guests gathered for the service at the St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, to pay tribute to the wife of former president George H. W. Bush, who died at the age of 92 on Tuesday, April 17, following a series of recent hospitalizations. Following the service, the grandmother and great-grandmother was set to be buried at the Bush Library at Texas A&M University, northwest of Houston.

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Remembering Her Legacy

Thousands of people paid their respects to the former first lady at a viewing that was open to the public on Friday, April 20, ahead of the funeral, which was by invite only. 

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Melania Trump

President Donald Trump was not in attendance. The White House released a statement on Friday, April 20, saying the former reality star would not be present at the service for security reasons but his wife would be there to pay her respects. "First Lady Melania Trump will attend the memorial service for Barbara Bush this Saturday on behalf of the First Family,” the statement read. “To avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family and friends attending the service, President Trump will not attend.” 

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The Obamas

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama sat next to Melania Trump during the ceremony.

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The Clintons

Former president Bill Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton were in attendance. The pair looked somber as they took their seats next to the Obamas.  

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The Bush Family

Her son and former President George W. Bush and his father made their way to the front of the church. George H. W. honored his wife’s legacy at the funeral by wearing a special pair of socks with books on them as a symbol of her commitment to literacy over the past 30 years. Barbara and George H. W. wed in 1945 and shared five children together, including George, 71, Jeb, 65, Dorothy, 58, Neil, 63, Marvin, 61. They also shared a daughter, Robin, who died at the age of 3. 

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Saying Goodbye

The casket was brought into the church at the start of the service. The former first couple had both been battling health issues recently, and the former president released a statement on April 15 announcing that his wife would no longer be seeking medical treatment for her health issues and would instead focus on comfort care.

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Barbara Pierce Bush

The former first daughter fought back tears during her emotional reading from 2 Corinthians 4 at the Saturday service. 

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Jenna Bush Hager

The daughter of former President George W. Bush also took to the podium with her cousins and read from Proverbs 31.