Barbara Ellen Ell

Barbara Ellen Ell truly lived a life of Christian service. From her participation in Masonic organizations (Rainbow Girls, Eastern Star, and Amaranth) to her involvement with the Southport Lions Club; from a lifetime of church membership at Southport Baptist (now One Christian Church) to attending church regularly wherever she moved around the country; from going to Kodiak Baptist Mission in Alaska as a mission trip member to moving to Kodiak to live and work at the same mission for several years; from volunteering her time and energy whenever possible, always putting herself last. She took to heart the verse from Nehemiah 4:6 … the people had a mind to work. 

Barbara loved traveling the world and seeing different cultures and traditions. She first went to England in high school with her beloved Aunt Martha (Rosso) and that was the spark that led to multiple trips to Europe - both solo, in tour groups, and with her parents. Her love of travel and her independent spirit has been shown in her nephew and niece. 

Barbara embraced her intelligence in quirky ways - her quick wit and easy laugh will be missed. Her love of reading banned books and questionable reading material will not be forgotten. She could quote Doctor Who like a professional and, in her mind, the best Doctors were the early ones … and also the Tenth Doctor. And she got the math genes in the family - her love for statistics and teaching math at Ivy Tech most recently, plus at high schools in Georgia, allowed her to encourage the next generation of math students. She was a member of Southport High School Class of 1986 and a graduate of Purdue University/IUPUI. 

Barbara was a true friend and she loved her people fiercely. She fought for her beliefs and believed in the goodness of others. She fought for justice and mercy and was a steadfast follower of Christ. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Wilma Pamplin Ell. Survivors include her brother, Robert (Rebecca), and her sister, Elizabeth, nephews and nieces William and Allie Adams and Patricia and Robert Alexander Ell. She leaves behind many beloved cousins and friends. She will be missed.

Visitation is Monday, February 24, 2025, 2:30 pm until 5:00 pm at Indiana Funeral Care, Greenwood Chapel.

Funeral service will begin at 5:00 pm.

Graveside service is Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 11:00 am at Kraft Graceland Memorial Park, New Albany, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to one of Barbara’s areas of service: Amaranth Diabetes Foundation Inc. for Research, Southport Indiana Lions Club District 25-F, https://southportlions.org/donate or to Kodiak Baptist Mission https://www.kodiakbaptistmission.com/donation-direct