Obituary
Barbara L. Whipple, 86, of The Villages, FL, formerly of Jefferson, OH, passed peacefully January 22, 2016 as the result of injuries sustained in a fall.
Barbara was born May 25, 1929 in Ashtabula, OH. The daughter of Donald and Ruby Wright, she attended Baldwin-Wallace College where she majored in Elementary Education. It was there she met and married her husband of 66 years, William W. Whipple, a WWII pilot, on June 25, 1949.
She was a loving, forgiving, caring, and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and was adored by her family. Always kind and soft spoken, never critical, and always smiling; she made everyone feel special and appreciated. She was a wonderful role model, always looking for the positive in every situation. Striving to constantly better herself she began every new day be reading her Bible and a daily devotional guide and asking God to bless her family and friends.
Barbara was employed by the Ashtabula Area City Schools for 30 years as a much loved Kindergarten teacher and was an active member of Jefferson United Methodist Church until she moved from the area in 2013.
After retirement, her dream was to move to The Villages, FL where she made many new friends. She enjoyed playing golf, reading, attending and hosting gatherings with her Berea Villa neighbors while maintaining and keeping in touch with friends and family out of state.
Barbara will be sadly missed by her husband, William Whipple; her daughter Linda Lachey (Richard) of The Villages, FL; her son, William (Anne) of Raleigh, NC; her grand-children; Daniel O’Brien (Abby) of Chagrin Falls, OH; Will Whipple (Elizabeth), Jeremy Whipple (Kristine); Jessica Whipple, Jaclyn Summerlin, Jordan Summerlin all of Raleigh.
She was also blessed with two great grandsons, Thomas and Charlie O’Brien and one on the way, Weston Whipple. Also surviving are two sisters, Donna Brownlee of Burton, OH and Susan (Jim) Karis of Madison, OH.
A private memorial will be held at a later date. If you desire, contributions in her memory may be made to a charity of your choosing. The family requests that you celebrate Barbara’s rich and full life by sharing a favorite memory, smiling often when thinking of her and most of all, remembering to always look for the positive as she so often did!
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