Barbara Maxine Sandling

Maxine was born on June 21, 1924 in Mitchell, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Peter and Minnie Fixmer. A talented acrobat and dancer by age ten, she won first place 30 times in local talent competitions and was teaching acrobatics and tap

dancing before she graduated from high school.

After marrying career naval officer Joseph D. Sandling in 1942, she devoted herself to raising their three children while living in Virginia, New York, and North Carolina.

In Greensboro, she was "the voice of Sears" as the first WATS line operator for the company's catalog sales. After moving to Raleigh in 1962, she expressed her love of flowers and her artistic talent through the unique silk floral arrangements she made for The Patio,The Galleria, and private clients. She was a founder of the Oak Park Garden Club and its first president.

Fun loving and energetic, she enjoyed craft projects, shopping at flea markets, and supplying family and friends with home decoration.

Maxine was predeceased by her husband and brother, Kenneth M. Fixmer of Stillwater, MN. She is survived by her son Joseph D. Sandling II (Elizabeth) of Raleigh, daughters Sharon (Tom) Freeburg of Saint Charles IL, and Barbara (Ashley) Morris of Newport TN, as well as granddaughter Erin

(Scott) Woods of Newport TN and great-granddaughters Addison and Ava Woods.

She will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery alongside her husband. A memorial service will be held at a later date.