Barbara Ann McBride

Barbara was born in Mansfield on July 23, 1935 to Floyd and Catherine Anders Huff. Barbara graduated from Mansfield Senior High School in 1953. She then attended Kent State University for a short time, where she became a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. She subsequently transferred to Ashland College where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1958. Barbara met Dan while they were students at Ashland College. Dan fell “head over heels” in love with this bright redheaded girl. They married in 1957 while they were still students and that love lasted for 65 years of marriage.

They raised three sons, David, Mark, and Michael who were the center of their lives. They had two grandsons, Baker and Miles, who they couldn’t have loved more. Barbara and Dan loved their cottage at Pleasant Hill. So many peaceful hours they spent together enjoying the woods, lake, and each other. They also loved taking long drives through the countryside enjoying nature. After Barbara and Dan retired, they traveled extensively over the United States and enjoyed cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska. Barbara also traveled to Germany, Italy, and Russia with friends.

Barbara loved her friends and family. Michael, their third son, died in 2001 which was devastating. But thankfully they had sons David and Mark, who were always to be loved forever. David and Michael graduated from Ohio State University and Mark from North Central State College. Barbara also considered herself lucky to have the special friends and neighbors, the Berick family, in her life.

Barbara’s “faith journey” took her in many different directions over many years. She took advantage of numerous opportunities for spiritual enrichment. She became a member of the First Congregation Church where Dan and she were married and have been members since 1956. Barbara participated in countless committees and activities through the church and especially appreciated the outstanding music programs presented there.

Barbara taught elementary school at Creveling, Carpenter, and Newman schools in Mansfield. While at Newman School, Barbara was the recipient of a Martha Holden Jennings scholarship. She retired from Newman School where she loved to teach and loved the staff and children.

Barbara had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and pursued it through many different venues. During her years as a teacher, she would get up at 5:00a.m. to take graduate level courses over the television. In later life, she attended a number of advanced courses through the 60’s Plus Program at OSU Mansfield campus. Barbara loved classical music and visiting art museums. She spent many hours on the computer and at the Ohio Genealogy Library researching her family history and origins. And early and enthusiastic environmentalist, she started P.Y.E. (Protect Your Environment) along with an OSU professor and marched in protests to the building of nuclear power plants in Ohio. She also participated in a protest march with Senator Sherrod Brown.

In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Dan, son, Michael Robert, and her brother, Robert Eugene. She is survived by her sons, David and Mark, grandsons, Baker and Miles McBride, close cousins, Gary Hunt and Vickie (Hunt) O’Hara.

Barbara and Dan decided ahead of time, that when both were deceased, they would have a combined memorial service. There will be a gathering of family and friends on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 2:00-3:00 pm with service at 3:00 at Wappner Funeral Directors-Ontario, 100 S. Lexington Springmill Road.