Barbara Anne Fors

Barbara Anne Fors, 91, passed away Tuesday, October 15 at Edgewater Retirement Community in West Des Moines, IA. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Thursday, October 24 at Central Presbyterian Church, 3829 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA, where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery in Des Moines, IA.
Barb was born July 17, 1933 in Fairfield, IA, to Roy and Ethel (Berry) Hamlin. She grew up in the small town of Bonaparte in Van Buren County, Iowa.
After graduating from high school, Barb earned her undergraduate degree at Iowa Wesleyan College and later went on earn her Master's degree at Drake University. She was a dedicated and respected English teacher, serving 32 years in the Des Moines Public Schools before retiring in 1993. Her first years were at Roosevelt High and later she moved to Hoover High.
She met her loving husband Don while teaching at Roosevelt, and they were married on April 6, 1968. They made their home in Des Moines.
Barb was a longtime member of Central Presbyterian Church. Her life centered around her faith and love of family. She made many happy memories spending summers at the family cabin on Deer Yard Lake in Minnesota. After retirement, she enjoyed traveling to Europe with Don. They shared their passion for life and travel with their granddaughter Laura through Elderhostel adventures.
Social activities were a big part of Barb's life. She was a member of DAR, TTT, PEO, Eastern Star, and Pi Beta Phi sorority.
She loved filling her home with music as she played her organ, and she could sing multiple verses of almost any church hymn from memory. An avid cook, she enjoyed treating family and friends to treats and gourmet meals. She was also proud to display and share her beautiful stained glass creations.
Her love, hard work, and good example enriched many lives and she will be greatly missed.
Those left to cherish Barb's memory include daughter Valerie (David) Sondag of West Des Moines, granddaughter Laura (Tom) Peterson of Indianola, great-grandchildren Max, Ellie, and Ivy Peterson of Indianola, sister-in-law Janet (Jerry) Card of Ankeny, brother-in-law Larry Clark of Ankeny, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bernard "Don" Fors, Jr., her parents Roy and Ethel Hamlin, and sisters Areda Long, Alice Hamlin, Lucy Baron, and Ruth Christy.
Barb's family would like to express sincere thanks to the nurses and caregivers at Edgewater, and the hospice team from Wesley Life.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Central Presbyterian Church or the Alzheimer's Association.
Online condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com.
Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel
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