Barbara Jean Barber, 86, of rural St. Marys, passed away peacefully at 2:30 AM Thursday, October 24, 2019 in the Joint Twp. District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys, following an extended illness.

She was born June 11, 1933 in Union Twp., Mercer County, a daughter of the late William Davis and Cecile Boroff Hamilton. On March 15, 1952 she married Willis M. "Bill" Barber, who died September 4, 2019. They were married 67 years.

Surviving are her four children; Kay (Bud) Ross of St. Marys; Marcia (Randy) Brehm of Celina; Michael (Rebecca) Barber and Mark Barber, both of St. Marys; her grandchildren, Heidi (Kerry) Walls, Ben (Sara) Laux, Travis (Beverly) Laux, Brooke Brehm, Brittany Brehm, Christy (Ben) Lehman, David (Fiancee Heather Pavel) Barber, Jackie Barber, Jake Barber, Jessica (George) Yonker, Nikki (Tim) Carpenter and Scott (Stephanie) Ross; 17 great grandchildren and her sister, Sharon (Skip) Hilleary of Urbana and in-laws; Robert (LaDonna) Barber of Dothan, AL.and Janet (George) Grabby of Greenfield, IN. and special cousin, Victor Boroff of New Bremen.

Barbara was a 1950 graduate of Mendon-Union High School. She became general manager of the former 10 Empire Restaurants in the area. When a new store would be opened, she would train the new employees from the start up to make it work. She later worked at Big Lots in Van Wert and St. Marys for ten years. She was a member of the Spencerville Church of the Nazarene and enjoyed crocheting and quilting.

Funeral services will be 11 AM Monday in the Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home in Spencerville with Pastor Darryl Potts officiating. Burial will follow in the Spencerville Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10 AM Monday until service time at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Condolences may be sent to tbayliff@woh.rr.com.