Barbara Ruth Boyles

She is survived by her daughters, Jeralyn (Brian) Thielen, Susan (Jim) Hopton, her son, Jeff (Dawn), 7 grandchildren, Danielle (Jordan) Jeremy, Brooklynne (Alexander), Paige, Ireland, Caleb and Kanen, 2 great grandchildren, Malcom and Lena, and her sister, Aurea Fleener. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jerry, (just this past July) and her son, Ryan.

Barb graduated from Hammond High School in Hammond, Indiana in 1959. She then went to secretarial school in Chicago, Il. After completing that program, she took a job at Fairbank’s Morse, a pump and scale company. One of her secretarial duties was taking dictation for the Sales Representatives. There was one salesman that captured her eye and her heart. On March 10, 1962, Jerry and Barb not only became husband and wife, but Jerry soon learned how to take Barb’s dictation!

After living in Arizona, Indiana and Germany, Barb and Jerry settled in the state of Illinois with their young family and began their life in Peoria.

Barb always had a passion for music and became very involved with the music community in Peoria. She participated in Cornstock Theatre and was in numerous musicals including, Camelot, Mame and Hello Dolly. From there she began her singing career with Roman Paul and formed a piano/vocal duo where they performed at many nightclubs, hotels, and weddings around the area.

Barb was also heavily involved with the Peoria Jazz Society as well. She was the lead singer of local bands she established herself: Bits and Pieces, Perigee and Touch of Jazz. Barb remained active in singing and performing for many years.

She and Jerry had 62 years together and Jerry followed her everywhere she sang and performed. She will be missed by the Peoria music community, but also, so very much by her loving family. She has finally been reunited with her husband, her son, and is now singing with the angels in Heaven!

Visitation and Celebration of Life services will be held at Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton, 2408 Willow Knolls Rd in Peoria. Visitation will be Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 p.m. followed by a service to celebrate her life at 3:00 p.m. Burial will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Highview Christian Church in Washington, Il.

Words of comfort may be shared with the Boyles family at www.woolsey-wilton.com