Ray, Barbara C. (Vande Kieft) 1938-2008

RAY, VANDE KIEFT, FRIDLINGTON

Posted By: Ernie Braida (email)
Date: 1/12/2010 at 14:59:54

Barbara Carolyn Vande Kieft was born on December 31, 1938, at St. Albans, West Virginia. She was the fifth of six children that were born to John J. and Ruth Jane Fridlington Vande Kieft.

Barbara began her formal education in West Virginia and in 1947 the family moved to Tracy, Iowa. She continued her education in Tracy where she graduated from Tracy High School. As a young girl Barbara began working as a telephone operator and then was employed at Equitable Insurance Company in Des Moines, Iowa. She later worked at the Rolscreen Company in Pella, Iowa which enabled her to provide for the needs of her children: Timothy Lee Vande Kieft, Marcia Dawn Ray and Donnie Romero Ray, Jr.

Barbara was a devoted mother who in later years enjoyed baby-sitting her grandchildren. She was always willing and ready to take care of people. While being a mother and grandmother she also found time to be a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts and a team mother for the Little League Baseball.

In later years she was active with the Bellefountaine Cemetery Aid and enjoyed traveling, especially with her friend, Sandra Allgood and her sister, Dorothy Vande Kieft.

Barbara enjoyed good health and passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning, December 13, 2008, on arrival at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella, Iowa.

Those who will cherish her memory are her three children: Tim L. Vande Kieft and his wife, Anna Nelson of Ames, Iowa, Marcia D. and her husband, Dennis Boyd of Tracy, Iowa, Donnie R. Ray, Jr. of Knoxville, Iowa; four grandkids: Mike Boyd, Steph Boyd, Kate Vande Kieft and LuLu Vande Kieft; and one great-granddaughter, Kadyn Boyd. Barbara had just completed her Christmas shopping for her grandchildren.

Of her original family she leaves the following sisters and brother: Margaret Wilson of Newton, Iowa, Mary Jemison of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Dorothy Vande Kieft of Pella, Iowa, Richard Vande Kieft and his wife, Judy of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ruth Vande Kieft; her maternal grandparents, Fred and Elizabeth Fridlington; her paternal grandparents, John and Maggie Vande Kieft; her sister, Helen and her husband, Carroll Deaton; a nephew, Brian Smith and a grand-nephew, Matthew Smith, a son of Brian Smith.

Barbara would have celebrated her 70th birthday in just 18 days. For those desiring, memorials may be given for Clay Township Fire and Rescue.

Interment: Bellefountaine Cemetery at Tracy, Iowa

Van Dyk -Duven Funeral Home