On April 2, 2024, Barbara Marker, 91, of Bellefontaine, was eternally reunited with her beloved husband. Married on August 25, 1951, Barbara and Harold Marker were a devoted couple and true team throughout life. Their beautiful story commemorates the power of commitment and love to transform one’s life during times of pain and sadness.
Together they raised three children Deborah (Patrick) Ellis, Gail Morrissey, and Randy (Teresa) Marker. Together they built a family construction company. And together they dearly loved their grandchildren: Emily (Steve) Wieringa and daughters Lydia and Lana, Maribeth (Brett) Peters and son Drake, Sara Ellis, Kevin (Lindsay) Morrissey and children Quinn, Beckham, and Reese, Abigail (Eric Talbot) Marker and son Colin, Alison (Chris Yetman) Marker and children Oliver, Milo, and Evan, Kirk (Whitney) Marker and children Emerson, Liam, and Isla, and Craig Marker and children Sophia and Brady.
Barbara was born on December 6, 1932, in Franklin County to the late Russell Johnston and Dorothy Hand. She was preceded in death by her stepmother Louise Johnston and siblings Robert (Bob) Johnston, Patrick Hand, Tricia Engstrom, and Penny Hanes. Surviving siblings are Tony Hand, Carolyn Wolfe, and Ruth Ann Dell. Also surviving is her best friend since first grade, Betty Wenrick.
Barbara graduated from Covington High School and Miami Jacobs Business College. She met her husband while working at the family creamery in Covington, Ohio. After many moves, she and Harold settled in Bellefontaine in 1960 and worked side-by-side to grow their family business, Thomas & Marker Construction.
Barbara pursued a plethora of interests. Her intellectual talent favored working for the company, playing bridge, devouring voluminous books, assembling a 24-point Scrabble word, and competitively challenging anyone (even grandchildren) to card games. Her outdoor nature took her fishing, mushroom hunting, and enjoying water aerobics. She was a math whiz whose accounting skills and logical financial wisdom kept Harold accountable as well. Barbara’s culinary prowess and gift of hospitality provided much pleasure for family and friends, because she could whip up a delicious meal like it was magic. She especially enjoyed holding babies.
Barbara held a compassionate heart and quietly helped others, donated blood on a regular basis, volunteered for Warm Clothes for Kids, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bellefontaine. A Bible verse lifted from Proverbs 31 sums up the noble character of Barbara Marker: “Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
A private family burial will be held Friday, April 12 in the Bellefontaine Cemetery with Pastor Joe Ziraldo officiating the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to AFA to support research and help families touched by dementia: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave – 16th Floor, New York, NY 1001 (www.alzfdn.org), please note the tribute is for Barbara Marker.
Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Bellefontaine, is honored to serve the Marker family and encourages anyone to share a fond memory or message of condolence at www.edsfh.com.