Barbara Ann Earle, 66, of Grundy Center

Barbara Ann Earle, 66, of Grundy Center, formerly of West Union, died Thursday, April 4, 2013, at her home in Grundy Center. 

A memorial service was held Monday, April 8, at First Baptist Church in Grundy Center with Pastor Mike Nemmers officiating. 

Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center was in charge of arrangements. 

Inurnment followed at Rosehill Cemetery in Grundy Center. 

Barbara Ann (Tope) Earle, daughter of Harold and Lucille (Popenhagen) Tope, was born Dec. 14, 1946, in West Union. 

She grew up near West Union, where she attended school. During high school, Barb played softball for the West Union High School girls’ softball team, which took home a state championship title. 

On Jan. 9, 1966, Barb was united in marriage with Richard Keith Earle in Preston, Minn. The couple welcomed seven children into their family. 

Barb was a homemaker for many years and later worked as a home health aide for over 15 years in Grundy County.    

A member of First Baptist Church in Grundy Center, she hosted many ladies’ Bible study groups at her home. She was also a board member for Kling Memorial Library in Grundy Center and volunteered with Cedar Valley Hospice and Grundy County Memorial Hospital.

She enjoyed woodworking, gardening, cooking, painting, and crafts, and was an Iowa Hawkeyes and St. Louis Cardinals fan. 

She will be forever loved and remembered by those close to her, especially her children and grandchildren. 

Preceding Barb in death were her parents and her husband, Richard.  

Survivors include her seven children, Jeffrey (Amy Jo) of St. Louis, Mo., Brian (Dawn) of Wellsboro, Pa., Nicholas (Stacie) of Marion, Rebeca (Jordan) Dirks of Grundy Center, Joseph (Amy) of Harlan, Robert (Jennifer) of Ithaca, N.Y., and Jordan of Waterloo; 12 grandchildren; two brothers, Roger (Margaret) Tope of Marion and Ron (Jan) Tope of West Des Moines. 

To leave a message of condolence for the family, please go online to www.abelsfuneralhomes.com.