Barbara Joan Davis Weikel

1938 - 2023

Weikel

Barbara Joan Davis Weikel

December 22, 1938 - January 30, 2023

Barbara Joan (nee Davis) Weikel resident of St. Simons Island, Georgia and Toledo, Ohio peacefully passed away at her home, Marsh's Edge Retirement Community. Barbara had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia which recently transitioned to an aggressive form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Born in Ashland, Pennsylvania to Ralph Burton Davis and Dorothy Elizabeth Challenger as the middle child of three girls, Barbara descended from a family rich in American history. Her ancestors included a Revolutionary War veteran and a German-born great-grandfather Lutheran minister on her maternal side. On her paternal side she is a descendant of a spirited English miner adventurer who immigrated to the US, traveling around the world to prospect during the Australian gold rush where he met his Irish potato famine refugee wife. A family with deep historical significance suited Barbara Joan as an astute reader and lover of history. She shared this passion with her daughter, Kristin Holly Weikel, watching movies and reading about historical events and the British Monarchy.

Barbara grew up in a town in middle New Jersey near the "shore". Happy memories of Red Bank, New Jersey on the peaceful Navesink, a community rich in love. Her maternal cousins all grew up together, where they enjoyed many Sunday dinners. Because of her New Jersey roots meant she knew a good Italian sub and an appropriate tasty pizza.

"Barbie" graduated from Red Bank High School in 1956. After high school she pursued an education in nursing attending Abington School of Nursing in Abington, Pennsylvania. Little did she know how fateful her studies would provide the perfect complement to her medically-minded spouse. It was in Philadelphia Barbara would meet the love of her life, soul-mate, and best friend Malcolm ("Keith') Weikel. They met in the Summer of 1959 and were married for more than sixty years (December 17, 1960).

Meeting Keith Weikel meant many adventures ahead. Their first stop was Madison, Wisconsin where Keith obtained his masters and PhD in 1966 from the University of Wisconsin School of Business. Barbara put her nursing skills to work first at the pediatric unit of The University of Wisconsin Hospital (Madison), then the Veterans Hospital where she treated WWI, WWII, and Korean War veterans, and then completed her time in the Orthopedics unit. A lifelong love affair with Madison ensued for the couple where they returned many times for Badger football games, philanthropic events, and where Barbara served on the Board of the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing.

The Newlyweds next stop was back to Philadelphia followed by Northern New Jersey for Keith's tenure at Hoffmann-La Roche's Roche Labs. In North Caldwell the couple settled into young married life with their two children Richard Keith, and Kristin Holly, and their sweet collie, Ginger.

Keith's passion for politics meant Washington was calling and Barbara, the loyal teammate, was always up to the challenge of her upward-moving and energy-charged partner. They would settle and raise their family in McLean, Virginia. Barbara religiously read The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, and she and Keith frequently watched the political pundits of the time. Armed with medical acumen, confidence and a sharp tongue, Barbara was prepared to participate and challenge the policy wonks at receptions, cocktail and dinner parties.

Barbara's diverse skills were impressively intimidating. She was a veritable Martha Stewart before folks knew about Martha Stewart. Wallpapering skills; interior house painting; cutting and installation of crown molding with complimenting chair rails; meals from scratch; gardening (more resembling landscape architecture. Barbara may have missed her calling.); hosting back to back Christmas parties (corporate and family & friends…. WITHOUT A CATERER!); sewing; cake decorating; pine cone wreath making – the list is endless. Her nursing education and encyclopedic medical memory also proved invaluable, as she could diagnose disease, symptoms and cures for family and friends. Barbara served always stoically "On Call" for immediate and extended family who needed her medical excellence and care. To top it off she inherited her dad's engineering skills and her mom's English Major talent (sometimes to her dismay when she one time edited and typed late into the evening a nameless child's term paper on Mother's Day).

Later in life Barb and Keith moved to Toledo, Ohio, where Keith served as Chief Operating Officer for HealthCare and Retirement Corp (HCR), later HCR-ManorCare. Barbara passionately embraced life in Toledo, getting involved in the Corey Woods Garden Club, Epworth United Methodist Church and the Toledo Art Museum. A gracious hostess at the numerous corporate and community events at their Toledo home occupied her time.

Retirement meant going back to their 'home away from home' in Sea Island, Georgia where the family vacationed and had homes since the early 70's. The Golden Isles presented a quiet respite from the hectic career and life. Barbara served on the Board of the St. Simons Island Land Trust and enjoyed her Sea Island Garden Club, Skimmers, Bible Study group, and worshiping at Wesley United Methodist Church, St. Simons Island.

Her valiant battle with her ALL leukemia diagnosis back in 2018 impressed her doctors at Flower Hospital, Toledo, Ohio and Mayo Clinic's campus in Jacksonville, Florida, educating the most experienced and young oncologists in both the importance of never giving up on a patient, and that sometimes medical miracles are not performed by them but The Lord.

Barbara was preceded in death by her father: Ralph Burton Davis, mother: Dorothy Challenger Davis, older sister Miriam "Mimi" Koenig; younger sister, Ellen Kerfoot, and beloved spouse M. 'Keith' Weikel, and of course her beloved collies: Ginger I and Ginger II; never to forget Tai Tai the Russian Siberian cat. She is survived by her son Richard 'Rick" Keith Weikel (Michele) of Jamestown, New York and Daughter Kristin Holly Weikel of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Connor Keith Weikel and Lillian Weikel of Jamestown; and Russian Siberian cat, Tasha. She will be lovingly remembered for her devotion to her family as a wife, mother and for her strong Christian faith.

P.S. Barbara wanted you to know she edited and approved this obituary.

The Weikel family graciously asks that in lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to commemorate Barbara can contribute to: St. Simons Land Trust https://www.sslt.org, Hospice of the Golden Isles https://hospice.me or a charity of your choice.

Edo Miller and Sons of Brunswick, Georgia is handling arrangements. There will be a service in Toledo, Ohio and Sea Island, Georgia in the Spring of 2023.