Barbara was born in Villisca, Iowa on December 23, 1930 to Ray and Lenore (Winter) Enarson. Barbara attended Villisca public schools from Kindergarten through her senior year, graduating in the class of 1949. She worked for one year as a receptionist in a chiropractor’s office in Villisca before entering Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri. Barbara graduated from Tarkio in 1954 with degrees in Biology and Physical Education. While at Tarkio, Barbara joined Kappa Sorority where she met many life-long friends, many of whom stayed in touch for decades through round robin letters. The summer before her junior year, Barbara spent 2 months as a camp counselor for Camp Fire Girls in Cleveland, Ohio. She loved her time there and was able to enjoy canoe trips with the other counselors.
The year she graduated from Tarkio College, she married Ray McIntosh on April 29, 1954. Barbara and Ray met in 1950 when Ray was a senior and Barbara was a freshman. Their union produced 4 children; Angela 1958, Joseph 1959, Mary Beth 1961, and Robert 1963.
In the fall of 1954 Barb and Ray moved to Dunbar, Nebraska where Ray took a teaching position. After one year they moved to Osceola, Iowa, seven years later they moved to Irwin, Iowa. Ray taught and coached at Irwin Community High School while Barb raised their family and also did some substitute teaching.
In Irwin Barb became an active member of the United Methodist Church. She taught crafts and Bible school, helped with church suppers, and was the head of the Bible school program for many years. Barbara was also a member of the WSCS (Women’s Society of Christian Service). She was honored for her service at a ceremony in the Irwin UMC in June 2018. Barbara was a member of Eastern Star, she liked to garden, play bridge with many friends in the community, she enjoyed working on her many crafting projects, and chatting with friends over coffee.
More than anything, Barbara enjoyed spending time with her family and traveling. After they were married, Barb and Ray took a road trip to visit the camp Barb spent time as a counselor. They then traveled to New York City to see where Ray had been stationed in the army. On their way home they visited Niagara Falls and horse farms in Kentucky. Many years later Barb and Ray took another road trip East to visit friends and family in Connecticut, saw whales on the coastline of Maine, returning home through New England and Niagara Falls. In the years between, they took many camping trips to Yellowstone, the Tetons, Custer’s Battlefield, Great Smoky Mountains, and Mount Rushmore. One of the highlights of their travels was a trip to London, Scotland and Norway to spend time with their son Joe and his family as their daughter-in-law, Faye, was teaching in Edinburg at the University of Wisconsin in Scotland program.
Barbara loved spending time with her family. She was blessed to be loved by 4 children, 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was an avid card player and bird watcher. She loved Cardinals, but finches were her favorite. She was kind, considerate, fiercely loyal, loving. She was well respected and loved by her family and her community. She lived a rich and rewarding life. Loved her husband, her kids, grandkids and great grandkids. She will be missed by many and remembered by all.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Irwin United Methodist Church.
Funeral service will be Thursday, June 6th at 11am at United Methodist Church in Irwin. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Irwin. Pauley Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Funeral service will be Thursday, June 6th at 11am at United Methodist Church in Irwin. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Irwin. Pauley Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
