Barbara Sebring

Barbara Jane Sebring, 83, of Lake Wales, Florida, entered into her eternal rest on April 9, 2026, following a brief illness.

She was born January 19, 1943, in Danbury, Connecticut, to the late Robert J. and Dorothy Hughes Reese. She married James R. Sebring in 1962, and spent 45 years building a life and family with him.

The Sebrings resided in Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania, with their four children, where Barbara was an active member of the community. She served in the Gouldsboro Volunteer Women's Auxiliary, the Gouldsboro Methodist Women, and coordinated the Memorial Day and Independence Day parades.

Barbara moved with her family of six to Lake Wales in 1973, where she continued to serve her community. She was at one time a member of the Lake Wales Women's Club and logged thousands of hours volunteering for many organizations such as Lake Wales Little League, the Lake Wales Highlander Band Association, Lake Wales Care Center, and the Lake Wales Art Show. She also served the First Methodist Church of Lake Wales and First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales in various roles. She worked for over 30 years at First United Methodist Preschool as a teacher of 4-year-olds and assistant director. She worked for over 10 years at Hillcrest Elementary School, where she was named Paraprofessional of the Year for Lake Wales Charter Schools. Throughout her life, she gave books to hundreds of children to encourage a love of reading.

Barbara loved the beach, traveling, making homemade cards, curating unique experiences for children at church and in the community, and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her four children: Robert Sebring of Russellville, Arkansas, Terri Sebring of Lake Wales, Todd Sebring of Lake Wales, and Alicia Linder of Lake Wales; daughters-in-law Dawn Sebring and Elizabeth Sebring; son-in-law Jerry Linder; grandchildren Jennifer Snyder and her husband Gavin, Ashley Hebert and her husband Cody, Timothy Mooney and his wife Jessica, Ethan Sebring, and Micah Sebring; great-grandchildren Michael Snyder and Madison Snyder and Evelyn Hebert and Jackson Hebert; and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband James R. Sebring, sister Kathy Peters, and brother Jim Reese.

Barbara embraced others with love and acceptance; to her, there were no strangers, only friends she hadn't met yet.

A memorial service will be held May 17, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales at 2 p.m. The family will receive guests at a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Lake Wales Care Center or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.