What love is all about! My name was Barbara Chambers. I was born and raised near Rushsylvania, Ohio. I recently suffered a stroke and passed away on October 22, 2022, at the age of 83.
When I was very young, I met a “special” boy in school named Mike McBride. We started chasing each other in the early 50s. We caught each other in 1958 when we drove to Indiana to be married. We came home to parents who were disappointed. They felt that if we married at that young age, we would have young ones who would interrupt Mike’s education and keep him from being able to support Barb as she deserved. Well, we did have young ones named Joe, Scott, and Peggy – but they did not interrupt our preparation for meaningful careers and they added immeasurably to life’s joys together.
Over the next few years, the two of us worked together to forge careers in the insurance industry and in the rural electric industry. Barb became a partner in HGT Insurance Agency in New Concord, Ohio and Mike became general manager and CEO of Guernsey Muskingum Electric Cooperative, also in New Concord. During our working years, Barb became involved and energized in her involvement with barbershop singing with the Friendship Seven Chapter of Sweet Adelines.
During our working years, Mike became involved with a number of national organizations supporting rural electric cooperatives and their involvement in their local communities. Barb and Mike both retired in December 1994.
They began a 25 year “Odyssey of Retirement Adventure” in Plain City, Ohio, Dade City, Florida, and the 50 states of the USA. During the course of their retirement, they enjoyed the hobbies of sailing, camping, traveling, golfing, oil and acrylic painting, and woodworking.
Mike says, “It is with great sadness that I bid farewell to my lifelong partner. She has served as an inspiration to me and to many of our friends. I love you Barb and I always will!”
If you are considering a memorial donation, pelotonia.org, would be very appropriate. A small, private memorial service will be arranged in the near future.