Barbara J. Brown, age 84, of Defiance, Ohio, passed away on Monday, August 1, 2022 at her home surrounded by her loving family.
Barbara had worked at Symco Tech and Hayes Albion. She was a member of Union Chapel Church of God where she was very active in church life.
Barbara’s passions were cooking, making bread and canning. She enjoyed camping and wintered in Florida with her husband for many years.
She was a giving person who would make quilts and often give them to veterans and adopted a family every year for Christmas.
She enjoyed monthly get-togethers with a few of her classmates and their husbands. Her greatest joy was spending time with people and she especially loved spending time with her family.
Barbara was born on May 19 1938, in McClure, Ohio, the daughter of Dana Martin and Evelyn Rachel (Jennings) Fenstermaker. She was a 1957 graduate of Montpelier High School.
Barbara married Ralph R. “Brownie” Brown on August 17, 1957, at the Chapel of the Garden in Angola, Indiana, and he preceded her in death on November 27, 2019.
Surviving are four daughters, Cindy (Sonny) Freshour, of Cecil, Ohio, Teri (Gary) DeLine, of Stryker, Ohio, Julie (Larry) Freshour, of Bryan, and Pam (Tony Przepiora) Brown, of Bryan; one son Ralph (Karla) Brown, Jr., of Defiance; eighteen grandchildren, Joe Eldridge, Stephanie (Joe) Zimmerman, Valerie (Jeremiah) Garcia, Shawna (Tracy ) Westrick, Skylar (Kit Tiell) Mettert, Larry (Stacy) Freshour, Jr., Cassie (Andrew) Carlin, James Bishop, Zachary (Kaitlyn) Brown, Zane Brown and Trevor Przepiora; seventeen great-grandchildren, Ronatta Campbell, Cooper, Maggie, Grant, and Ben Zimmerman, Victoria Rios, Micah, Rayna and Zaria Garcia, Chase, Andrew, Griffin, and Emmalyn Westrick, Landon and Lexi Freshour, Ava Carlin and Dacey Bishop; one great-great-grandchild, Ryelle Gibson and another on the way; three sisters, Martha Beavers, of Toledo, Phyllis Greenler, of Bryan and Linda (Stan) Saxton, of Montpelier; numerous nieces and nephews; and several dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and six brothers, Dan, Robert, Richard, Frederick, Ralph Edward and Larry Fenstermaker.
Visitation will be held on Monday, August 8, 2022, from 2:00-5:00 P.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan. Services will be held on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, Bryan, with Pastor Dennis Jones officiating, where the family will receive visitors for one hour prior to the service, from 10:00-11:00 A.M. They also request that your dress be informal to honor Barbara’s wishes. Interment will follow in Evansport Cemetery.
Memorials are requested to Union Chapel Church of God or Tiffin Township Fire Department.
To sign the online register or to send condolences, please visit www.krillfuneralservice.com.