Barbara M Appling

She attended Mt. Whitney High School in Visalia, graduated 1959.

Barbara married James Appling (David) on January 10th, 1960 in Visalia, CA and they moved to Hornitos in April of 1960. They were married 36 years. Together they had two daughters, Janet and Sharon.

Barbara dedicated much of her time as a volunteer for many organizations and was involved in many community based clubs. In 1965, she became a Teacher’s Aide for Hornitos Elementary School. She was a long time member of the Hornitos Patrons Club, a 4-H Leader, she volunteered at the John C. Fremont Hospital, she was a Volunteer in Prevention for Hunter’s Valley Volunteer Fire Department (CDF), and she was a literacy tutor for Merced County Library. She was a member of the Cathey’s Valley Garden Club, the Atwater Garden Club, and the Kiwanis Club of Merced. She was the Director for the Yosemite Gateway District from 1989-2006. She also volunteered for the Mariposa Museum & History Center. From December 2006 to February 2012 she was a long term care Ombudsman for Merced County. She lived a full life serving others and her community.

She was a member of the Cathey’s Valley Baptist Church. She loved gardening, spending time with family and friends, and meeting new people to share stories with; she truly never met a stranger. To know her, was to befriend her.

Barbara passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, on December 26th, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Esther Gleim, her sister Carol Phillips, and her granddaughter, Christine Barber. She is survived by her daughters, Janet (Tony) Kasper and Sharon (Alex) Ivanoff; her grandchildren, Joanne Broady, Nicole (Joshua) Overn, Kathleen (Rick) Bussell, Nicolas Ivanoff, Katrina Kasper, and 6 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 30th, 2022 at the Stephens and Bean Funeral Chapel in Fresno, CA.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stephensandbean.com for the Appling family.