Barbara Sue Van Kirk

Van Kirk, Barbara Sue, age 69 of Kettering, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 26, 2014. She graduated from Fairview High School in 1962 and from the University of Dayton with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1966. Barbara, from a young girl, always wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. She earned her Master of Science in Education degree at UD and taught kindergarten for thirty years in the Fairborn School System. At Fairview United Methodist Church, where she grew up, Barbara taught Sunday School to young children for many years. She was well loved, making the world a little better because she was important in the life of a child. At Fairview Church Barbara was also a member of a circle, a devoted participant in the Food Pantry Ministry and in their Christmas Store for needy families. Every August Barb went to Canada with the family to her father's fishing camp and also loved to go to Silver Bay, a YMCA Conference Center on Lake George in New York's Adirondacks. She is preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy and Dr. Herman Van Kirk, as well as her niece Elizabeth Louise Gray. Barbara is survived by her siblings Virginia and Edman Gray, Jennifer and Dr. John Van Kirk, Diana and Dr. Dale Van Kirk, nieces and nephews Bridget and Rev. David Gray, Linnea Van Kirk, Heidi and Christopher Frago, and Elisa and Richard Iversen. She was blessed with many "grandchildren" Andrew, Brendan, Cathleen, and Eleanor Gray, Noah and Josiah Frago, and Brady, Brent, and Brynn Iversen. The family will greet friends on Wednesday evening, April 2, from 5:00pm-7:00pm at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd. in Kettering. Funeral Services will be the next morning, April 3, at 11:00am at Fairview United Methodist Church, 828 West Fairview Ave, with Pastor Barbara Wiechel and Rev. David Gray officiating. The family will be in the narthex an hour before to greet friends. Barbara will be laid to rest in Greenville Union Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Her family wishes to thank Home Instead, Lincoln Park Manor, and Hospice of Dayton for all their care of Barbara through these past few years. Contributions in her memory may be made to Fairview United Methodist Church, 828 W. Fairview Ave, Dayton, Ohio 45406.