Barbara Jean Brentlinger, 85, went to be with the Lord on Friday, February 4, 2011.
She was born on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1925 in Carrier Mills, Illinois to Clark and Evelyn Weir. The family later moved to Flora, Illinois. After graduating from Flora High School in 1943, Barbara worked for a short time in East St. Louis before moving back to Flora to be a journalist for the Flora daily newspaper. In 1946 she married her high school sweetheart, Brock Brentlinger, and the young couple moved to Greenville, Illinois where Brock attended Greenville College.
Six children were born to Brock and Barbara while living in Greenville, Illinois. While Brock completed two postgraduate degrees, Barbara faced the many challenges of raising six children, running a household and stretching the family’s limited finances. She also managed to be active in the music ministry of their local church where she directed the adult chancel choir and served as church pianist. In 1969, the family moved to Beaumont, Texas where Brock became the Dean of Fine Arts at Lamar University. The family joined Calder Baptist Church and Barbara was active in the adult choir and also taught a ladies’ Sunday School class for many years. Barbara also worked for a number of years as part of the office staff of Calder Baptist Church.
Barbara’s legacy is not about job titles, awards or memberships in prestigious organizations. Instead her family remembers her as someone who loved God first and who demonstrated this love by caring for the needs of others. She taught her children to “love people not only with words and talk, but by …actions and true caring.” She is remembered as one who was always ready to listen, encourage and to give wise counsel.
Barbara was married to Brock for 62 years up until his death in 2009. She was also preceded in death by her youngest son, Geoffrey, in 1989. Barbara is survived by three sons and two daughters: Gregory Brentlinger and wife Dorothy of Beaumont; Gary Brentlinger and wife Dee Alice of Houston; Rebecca Brentlinger Ray and husband Rick of The Woodlands, Garth Brentlinger and wife Terri of Nederland and Bobbie Brentlinger of Houston. Barbara is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, as well as by a brother, Bill Weir of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Her funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 8, 2011, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. A gathering of her family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Calder Baptist Church, 1005 North 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77702.
