Barbara Gorham

Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Thomas M. Gorham, children; Gerald (Brenda) Gorham and Julene (Mark) Knudson; grandchildren; Kayleigh (David) Rich, Samuel Gorham, and Andrea Knudson, great-grandchildren; Alexa Rich and Genevieve Rich along with other dear family and friends. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her siblings, Shirley Reese, James Powell, Gerald Powell, and Harold Powell.

Barb loved her hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, where she graduated from East High School, married, raised her family, and worked. After high school, Barb worked for Davis Brokerage and oversaw major accounts for Jack Davis. Barbara was also the bookkeeper for Phil Johnson’s Greenhouse and Florist and worked various jobs while raising her family. Barb retired as Payroll Clerk from Anderson Ericson & Dairy shortly after Tom retired from the Des Moines Fire Department.

Upon retirement, Barb and Tom decided to move to Ohio, where their children lived to be active grandparents. Though the pull of grandchild was strong, Barb hated leaving family behind. She loved being Aunt Barb to her numerous nephew and nieces as much as being a mom.

Above all, Barbara loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and she “desired to serve Him all her days!” In Des Moines, she was active from her teenage years until the early 1990s as a Grandview Park Baptist Church member. When they left Des Moines, Barb and Tom were active members of Fellowship Baptist Church. They attended Grace Baptist Church in Westerville, Ohio, and then joined in fellowship at Linworth Baptist Church.

Barbara spent her final two years under the compassionate care of Legacy Village Memory Care of Xenia, Ohio, and Ohio Hospice of Dayton. Barbara’s last years and days were filled with love, compassion, and dignity thanks to these two organizations.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Legacy Village Foundation, https://www.nationalchurchresidences.org/donate/legacy-village/ .

The family will receive friends Friday, January 13, 2023, from 11:30-1PM at SCHOEDINGER WORTHINGTON FUNERAL HOME, 6699 N. High St, with a funeral service to follow that will be live-streamed at 1 PM, January 13, 2023, with burial at Kingwood Memorial Park. Please share a memory or send condolences to Barbara’s family.