Barbara Middleton

Middleton (Chakroff) Barbara Middleton (Chakroff), died on October 9, 2014, at the age of 87. Barb was the daughter of Newell and Myra Middleton. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Richard Chakroff; her five children, Paul Chakroff (Marilyn), David Chakroff, Patti Dean (Art), Chris Chakroff (Kerri), and Myra Lynn Pumphrey (Jerry); and her nine grandchildren, Evan Chakroff, Alek Chakroff, Nathan Rahe, Abigail (Paul) Dean-Wicks, Jason Chakroff, Ryan Chakroff, Devan Chakroff, David Pumphrey, and Sarah Middleton Pumphrey. Other surviving family members include siblings Betts Slim and Ronald Middleton (Jacki). Barb was a Worthington resident for 59 years and a graduate of Otterbein College. She was an owner and the manager of Melbourne Village retirement center and was an owner of Middleton Place offices. Barb was a member of the Worthington Historical Society and Griswold Senior Center and served on the board of the Worthington Parks and Recreation Department. Her interests and favorite hobbies included driving and camping with her family across the U.S. and Europe (especially Alaska to visit her cousins), playing with her grandchildren, jigsaw puzzles, cooking for large groups of friends and family, playing Bridge, telling stories about her childhood in Vermont, hiking, snow skiing, building sandcastles, bodysurfing, beachcombing, and just spending time at the beach with family and friends. She last skied at the age of 70, bodysurfed at 84 and camped in a tent at 85. Barb made "The Best" Thanksgiving dinners, always preferring to cook for 25 or more guests. A gathering to celebrate Barb's life will be held at the Griswold Center, 777 High Street, Worthington, Ohio, on Friday, November 28, 2014, from 4-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Barb's name to the Worthington Parks and Recreation Improvement Fund, 345 E. Wilson Bridge Road, Worthington, OH 43085 or to the Worthington Historical Society, 50 West New England Avenue, Worthington, OH 43805.