Barbara was born April 2, 1924, in Kalamazoo to Henry and Florence (Nelson) Shepard. She lived in Kalamazoo and Lawrence. Barbara completed the 8 ^th grade then went to work as live in help.

Barbara met Donald James Gross and they were married March 8, 1943. They were together 58 years and she has missed him for 13 years.

She raised their three children in Watervliet; Elizabeth (Thomas) Mundt, Barbara (Earl Fred) Grant, and Donald (Mary Frances) Gross. She enjoyed loving eight grandchildren; Tim (Martha) Mundt, Greg (Kristine) Mundt, Doug (Tara) Mundt, Amy (John) Lovell, Debbie (Darrell) Keltner, Brian (Laura) Grant, Tammy (Glenn) Stephens, and Dawn (Bill) Rushing. Also twenty great grandchildren; Brandon, Austin, Gabi, and Cameron Mundt, Brooke and Tyler Mundt, Alyssa Peterson, Rachel, Robert and Will Cooper, Mackenzie Grant, Justin and Ryan McCarley, Merideth (Kenny) Taylor, Slade Rushing, Rhett Graham, Thad Stephens, and Lauren and Teanna Lovell.

Barbara passed away Sunday, December 28, at Countryside Nursing Home in South Haven with her children present. Barbara had many loving caregivers in her three years there. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother Nelson, sisters Bernice Ludecking, Helen Shepard and Henrietta Judy Shepard.

Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet is assisting Barbara's family with cremation arrangements and burial will happen at a later date.