Barbara Jean Faulkner Obituary (1928 - 2013)

Barbara Jean Faulkner, 85, of Decatur, IL passed away on Friday (Nov. 15, 2013) at Delnor Glen Assisted Living, St. Charles, IL. A service to celebrate Barbara's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday (Nov. 20, 2013) at Witt United Methodist Church in Witt, IL. Burial will be in Nokomis Cemetery. Dawson & Wikoff West Wood Street Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Expressions of love can be made through flowers or as a memorial to the First United Methodist Church of Decatur or Witt United Methodist Church. Barbara was born on September 20, 1928 in Witt, IL, the daughter of Olin Nathaniel and Rachel Mae (Bote) Snyder. Barbara attended Green Valley Grade School, which was a one room schoolhouse in Roundtree Township in Witt, IL. She already knew her basic number facts and how to read so she was placed in second grade after a few days as a first grader. She graduated from Witt High School when she was 16. Barbara attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL for several years then transferred to Washington University School of Nursing, graduating in 1950. She was a member of Alpha Gam sorority at Illinois Wesleyan. As a devoted member of First United Methodist Church of Decatur, she participated in many committees over the years. Barbara and her family lived in Forsyth, IL for 25+ years. During that time, Barbara was the go-to person in town for organizing church and school functions and fund raisers as well as bandaging scraped knees or providing medical assistance to children and neighbors in need. She poured her energy into supporting her children's interests in boy scouts, 4-H, music and dance lessons, school sports, etc., spending many hours on the road. After her children left home, it was time for her to explore some of her own interests in taking ballroom dance lessons, participating behind the scenes and supporting local politics, becoming a volunteer with the Decatur Hospital Auxiliary, being on many church committees and doing home visits, delivering meals, and enjoying music concerts and lectures. Barbara worked for Dr. Downing as an RN when first coming to Decatur and later continued with her nursing, working for 14 years for Dr. Paul S. Reeder. Barbara is survived by her children: Douglas Lynn Faulkner of Arlington, VA, Dawn Ilene Faulkner Hinterlong of Elburn, IL, David Laren Faulkner of Phoenix, AZ, Dwayne William Faulkner of Tyrone, GA; sisters: Marjorie Ruth Reynolds of Nokomis, IL, Hazel Mae Furness of Hillsboro, IL, Joyce Marie Kirk of Carrollton, TX; grandchildren: Edward Hawley Faulkner and Connor William Faulkner. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Wayne Snyder and Lynn Snyder. The family would like to acknowledge the love and support of her many caregivers at the assisted living facility in St. Charles, IL and hospice. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.