Oldest of ‘Cheaper by Dozen’ Dies

Anne Gilbreth Barney, the oldest of the 12 children of the famous “Cheaper by the Dozen” clan that was memorialized in books and films, has died. She was 81 and died at her Palo Alto home Monday after a lengthy illness.

Her parents, Frank and Lillian M. Gilbreth, were pioneers in the study of time and motion who brought those then-innovative concepts into their home. The parents held “assembly calls” to muster the children for school each day, called a “family council” each Sunday to discuss budget matters and established a system of handing out household chores to the lowest bidder.

“All 12 led fulfilled lives,” said one of Mrs. Barney’s three sons, Peter. “They all had, and have, excellent senses of humor, which they got from their father.”

The books “Cheaper by the Dozen” and a sequel, “Belles on Their Toes” were co-authored by Mrs. Barney’s sister, Ernestine Carey, and brother, Frank Jr. Those two based much of their recollections on the family magazine Ambidextrous which the children conceived as a way to keep plentiful friends and relatives current on Gilbreth affairs without having to resort to individual letters.

Both the books were made into movies, with Clifton Webb playing the father and Myrna Loy the mother.

Mrs. Barney’s other survivors include brothers Bill, Fred, Jack, Dan and Bob Gilbreth, sisters Lil Johnson and Janes Heppes and five grandchildren.