Barbara L. Gatfield

Barbara Gatfield, age 94, of Port Orange, FL, passed away Thursday, September 19, 2024. Born on August 9, 1930, in Plainfield, Indiana, she was the daughter of Charley and Cora Wilcox. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Charley, John and Fred Wilcox and sister Gloria Dee Cruise. Barbara is survived her three children, Pamela Gatfield, Terry Payne (Greg), and Douglas Gatfield (Amy); grandchildren Jerusha Gatfield, Zachary Gatfield, Andrea Payne Daihl (Rob) and Joseph Payne (Bailey) and great grandchildren Cameron Daihl and Evan Daihl.

Barbara met Allen Gatfield in Plainfield, IN, Highschool and when they were dating they enjoyed riding their motorcycles together. Barbara was married to Allen, on January 27, 1951.

They started their life together as he finished his education. A few years later they started their family. They moved to Silver Springs, Maryland; where they raised their 3 children, a cat and a dog. They travelled as a family in the USA to places like the Yellowstone Park, Grand Teton National Park, Glacier Park, Mt Rainer, and as far west as Seattle. and spent many weekends and vacations boating on the Chesapeake Bay.

Barbara was a wife, mother and homemaker. She was extremely creative and she sewed the kids clothing and knitted beautiful sweaters each year. In her earlier years she expressed her creativity in crafts including sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery and various crafts such as ceramics. She also taught these skills to her children and other children when she was a Camp Fire Girls, Cub Scout, and 4H Leader.

Barbara also loved to play tennis and bowl, playing in multiple afternoon leagues while the kids were in school.

When the kids were grown Barbara and Allen lived and traveled on the boat on the Intercoastal Waterway for a couple of years, and then they settled in Florida and she began new hobbies such as quilting, porcelain dolls (making and collecting), fine and delicate crocheting to dress her dolls and she became a proficient and prolific oil painter. She was a member of multiple doll clubs.

Once settled in Florida Barbara and Allen began the RV phase of their lives. They travelled all around the United States including driving the RV to Alaska. They also RV’d through Canada. Besides RVing they also travelled together to Europe including Ireland, Italy, Germany, and they sailed in the Virgin Islands.

After the RV phase of their lives, came the Blue Ridge mountains summer home in Fancy Gap, VA. This time included pleasant afternoons sewing or painting on the back screen porch and enjoying a beautiful mountain view. Hours spent shopping exploring the local quilting stores and building up three lifetimes of fabric supplies, exploring the country mountain roads, and enjoying mountain music. During this time the crafts became a business “Barbs Dolls and Crafts” She marketed her items on Etsy and the mountain home provided a venue to sell at the Hillsville Annual Flea Market.

Wife, mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, friend, traveler, crafter, artist, and business woman. Barbara knew the Lord and we will see her again, she had a long and full life, she loved and was loved by her family and friends and she will be missed by those she left behind until we meet again.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 27, at 1 p.m., at Faith Church - United Brethren, 4700 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Port Orange FL 32129 with a reception to follow after.