Barbara Epps was a loving, caring wife, mother and grand/great grandmother. She is survived by Douglas, Cynthia, Constance, Melissa and Jennifer all still in the mid Florida area. Barbara and Earle had a sweet deal …. they never spent winters in North Carolina and never spent summer in Florida in their golfing retirement endeavors.
The last several years she experienced a slow decline of her memory and lived in the Tampa area. She was still involved in activities and was able to love and care for her amazing poodle/partner/service dog Nicole. Born and raised in Cohoes, New York , Barbara spent several weeks enjoying relatives and places of her youth in upstate NY on a a great last visit as her memory decline began.
She was honored by Lakeland Regional Medical Center on January 9, 2007 for 50 years of service as a volunteer auxiliary member. She was one of the first members of what then was the Morell Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Barbara trained as a registered nurse, moved to Lakeland from Staten Island, N.Y., with her husband, Dr. Earle Epps, an anesthesiologist. She left nursing to raise her three children and remained in the Lakeland area (and North Carolina) the rest of her life.
She had many great and wonderful friends and neighbors at the Sapphire North Carolina area that was her summer home... a very active lifestyle including golf and Mahjong among many other outdoor activities. She and three other friends flipped over their canoes in a ice cold river at the age of 75 ! They laughed for days!!!! Barbara truly loved the camaraderie and community of the Burlingame group in North Carolina.
Barbara passed away quietly, Sunday, April 14.
For family, friends and acquaintances there will be a memoriam service May 6 at All Saints Episcopal Church located in downtown Lakeland, 202 S. Massachusetts Ave.
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