Jean Barber

1934 - 2025

Jean Barber of San Marcos, Texas, wife of the late Bill Barber for 58 years, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 2, 2025.

Jean was born in Kenedy, Texas, on November 5, 1934, where she lived her childhood years and graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1953, where she was a twirler and band majorette.

After High School, Jean graduated with a degree in Education in 1956 from Southwest Texas State Teachers College, now known as Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. While at Texas State Teachers College, she was a twirler and majorette core member, later known as the Strutters and the Delta Zeta sorority. Jean also met her lifelong mate of 58 years, Bill Barber of Fentress, Texas, at Southwest Texas State Teachers College.

Utilizing her degree in education, she taught kindergarten and 2nd grade for 27 years. Jean and Bill moved from Central Texas to Lake Jackson, Texas, to raise their two boys there until they graduated from high school to attend Texas State like their parents. While in Lake Jackson, Jean taught at A.P. Beutel Elementary School until she retired. After her teacher's retirement, Jean and Bill moved to San Marcos in 1982 to be close to their boys and their families in San Marcos and New Braunfels.

Jean loved her husband Bill of 58 years, her two boys, their children and grandchildren, the First United Methodist Church of San Marcos, her Emmaus Reunion Group, many lifelong friends, her bridge club, and the Southwest Texas Bobcats Football and Girls Basketball teams where she never missed a game for many years until she just could no longer attend for health reasons. She also loved Texas Blue Bonnets and everything with the color blue in it, along with her deep Texas heritage dating all the way back to 1830.

She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and Her great great grandfather was Reuben Hornsby, the first white settler of Travis County, Austin, Texas.

Jean is survived by her two sons, Clay Barber of Rogers, Arkansas, and his wife Jessica and Bob Barber of New Braunfels, Texas, and his wife, Rachael, plus eight grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.

She will be buried alongside her lifelong husband, Bill Barber in Fentress, Texas, between San Marcos and Luling at the Fentress Cemetery. She and Bill were devoted Christians and are now back together in Heaven with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

One of her favorite scriptures was Isaiah 40:29-31- "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Services will be held on Friday, May 9, 2025, at First United Methodist Church, 129 W. Hutchison Street, San Marcos, with Visitation beginning at 9:00am and Funeral Service at 10:00am. Burial will follow at Fentress Cemetery.