Barbara Ann Hill

Barbara Ann (Snyder) Hill, 91, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at her home at StoryPoint Senior Living Community in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Though she was no stranger to Iifes hardships, she was blessed with a heart as big as the summer sky and a warm, winning smile that radiated warmth throughout her days. She will be deeply missed, but all who knew her are comforted by memories of the light she brought to their lives.

Barbara was born on May 11, 1933, to Lucille and Irvin Snyder at the Fort Wayne Methodist Hospital, later known as Parkview Hospital. She was fond of her childhood memories, having been surrounded by a gentle and loving family and the simple joys of everyday life with them. As a young girl, she often accompanied her grandmother to her White Cross Auxiliary volunteer duty at the hospital. She became a candy striper, and at age 15, she was given a job as a nurse’s aide, earning 25 cents an hour. She loved the work and began to dream of her life as a nurse. Active in her church and Job’s Daughters, her faith became entwined with her love of service to others.

Barbara took piano lessons as a child, and found another ministry that would shape her life. She loved Christian hymns especially. She continued to play the piano for the entertainment of her StoryPoint neighbors, almost until the time of her death.

During the war years, the Fort Wayne Daisies baseball team was founded to play in the All American Girls Baseball League, as depicted in the Tom Hanks film “A League of Their Own”. At age 14, Barbara signed up to be an “Usherette” for the Daisies home games at Memorial Park, and soon after became a Bat Girl for a few seasons. With all her memories, she was delighted by the film and was invited to call “Play Ball” at a Fort Wayne TinCaps minor league baseball game honoring the Daisies in 2023.

Barbara earned her Registered Nurse diploma at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, before going on to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in General Nursing at Indiana University in Bloomington. She loved every minute of learning and loved her fellow student comrades. She maintained her nurse’s training friendships for life.

While a student at IU in Bloomington, Barbara met her husband-to-be, Richard (Dick) Hill. They wed in 1957. Barbara was dearly loved by Dick’s family and friends in southern Indiana, many of whom became lifelong friends.

Dick and Barbara welcomed two children, Timothy and Elizabeth (Betsy), and set about a family life she described as “energetic and wonderfully ordinary”. After moving to Columbus, Franklin, Kokomo, and West Lafayette, Indiana; to Saint Louis and Chicago; and Bowling Green, Kentucky, Dick and Barbara returned to Fort Wayne in 1971. Dick joined the newly-founded Indiana University - Purdue University at Fort Wayne (IPFW) as a professor in the School of Business. Barbara joined the IPFW School of Nursing faculty, where she taught Nursing Research, Community Nursing, and Rehab Nursing, and was a Clinical Instructor. She later earned Master’s degrees in Nursing and Education from Purdue University, and completed her academic portfolio with a Doctorate in Education Administration and Nursing Education from Ball State University. She became the first nurse in Fort Wayne to earn a doctoral degree. She published articles in professional nursing journals, and along with Dick, founded a scholarship for nursing students. She retired as Professor Emerita from the School of Nursing at IPFW in 1991. Barbara’s experience, knowledge, skills and caring nature have lived on over the years through the many nursing students whose lives she touched, as part of their own careers as nurses in the local community and beyond.

Volunteerism and philanthropy were important to Barbara. She served as an Elder at First Presbyterian Church, as well as a Samaritan at Plymouth Congregational Church, where she visited shut-ins. She was a member and past-President of the BZ Chapter of P.E.O., helping to fund college scholarships for women. She entertained nursing home audiences through her involvement with the Northern Notes choir. She counted her friendships with her P.E.O. sisters as precious gifts.

During their time at IPFW and into retirement, Dick and Barbara actively participated in campus activities, including volunteering as “Royal Volley-Dons” for the men’s volleyball team. She cherished her friendships with her fellow IPFW nursing faculty, along with the IPFW faculty community at large.

Along with Dick, Barbara led train-the-trainer sessions on Health Promotion and Advocacy at locations around the country for the national office of AARP. When Dick acquired Parkinson’s Disease, they joined the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group and Caregiver’s Support Group at Turnstone, where they found a new group of beloved friends.

In retirement, Dick and Barbara traveled the country in increasingly larger motor homes for many years, often as part of the Hoosier Cruisers RV club, or just on their own, reaching as far as Florida and even the National Parks in Utah, before settling back again in Fort Wayne. With Hoosier Cruisers, Barbara played the organ for Sunday services at camping rallies and found happiness in enjoying yet another group of lasting friends.

Her membership at Plymouth Congregational Church guided her spiritual journey and allowed Barbara to continue her life of service to others. She will be missed by many dear friends from church who shared in her faith.

Not long after Dick’s passing in 2017, Barbara moved into the StoryPoint Senior Living community as a founding resident, where she was known and beloved by all. She would play hymns or old classics on the grand piano in the foyer so she and her neighbors could sing along. She loved her apartment and being a part of the community, always participating in social events. She forged strong friendships with too many StoryPoint residents and staffers to count. Even to the end, they treasured her bright eyes and her ever-present pure, sweet smile.

Barbara is survived by her son, Tim Hill of Pleasanton, California; daughter, Betsy (Jay) Van Markwyk of Fort Wayne; grandchildren Griffin Hill and Emily Hill of Pleasanton, California; and sister-in-law, Ruth Snyder of New Haven. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Richard Emmett Hill, and her brother, Charles Richard Snyder.

A Celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at Plymouth Congregational Church of Fort Wayne, 501 W. Berry St., on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM, with calling one hour prior. Memorial contributions may be made to Plymouth Congregational Church.