Barbara A. (Bittner) Eckert Obituary (1941 - 2019)

Barbara A. Eckert, 78, formerly of Albion, passed away on November 6, 2019, at Miller's at Oak Pointe in Columbia City. Born in Columbia City, on August 28, 1941, to the late Emory and Celia (Gaddis) Bittner. She spent her formative years in Columbia City, graduating from Columbia City High School in 1958. Barbara married her high school sweetheart Donald W. Eckert in Columbia City, on May 1, 1959. After a divorce from Don, she was married to William H. Kanis, he passed on August 5, 1971. Later she was married to Robert E. Mabee, he preceded her in June 16,1996. She then remarried Donald on September 3, 1983 in Auburn. The couple lived at their most recent home since 1995. Don preceded her in death on September 24, 2014. She was a member of the Green Center United Methodist Church, Eastern Star and she was a Daughter of the American Revolution. She volunteered at Parkview Hospital and Northridge Nursing Home. She loved her cats and birds. She was the manager at Fort Wayne Auto Storage Pool for 30 years. The surviving relatives include her children, Christina (Doug) Hensley of Albion, Debbie (Kevin) Johnson of Fort Wayne, Rick (Christy) Kanis of Churubusco, Lisa (Ken) Baker of New Haven and Tracie Eckert of OH; step-children, Bobby (Genoveva) Mabee of AZ, Bonnetta (Steven) Davis of Fort Wayne and Donita Sherwood of TX; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In addition to her parents and three husbands, she is preceded in death by a grandson, Timothy Johnson; a step-son, Russell Mabee. Services will take place at Green Center United Methodist Church on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 10:00 AM. with calling one hour prior to the service. Family will also receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home on Monday, November 11, 2019, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Burial taking place at Eel River Cemetery, Allen County. In Lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Whitley County Humane Society. Online note to the family at www.sheetsandchilds.com.