Barbara Dee Sowers
Barbara Dee Sowers, 72, of Arcadia passed away at 1:38 a.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born on September 4, 1945 in Elwood to Ray & Dorothy (Hunter) Cummins. On October 8, 1966 she married Virgil C. “Buddy” Sowers and he survives.
She was the middle of three girls. Barbara graduated from Jackson Central High School in 1964 and was a member of East Union Christian Church. She was an animal lover and enjoyed showing Shetland ponies in her youth. Upon graduating, Barbara worked as a Program Analyst for the Department of Defense at Ft. Benjamin Harrison for thirty years retiring in 1995. She enjoyed life to the fullest and was always smiling and laughing. Her family, pets included, was of the utmost importance to her. Barbara also enjoyed traveling, collecting and trail riding. She was the matriarch of the family and enjoyed spending time with her family. Zeva, her dog and her horse Triton will miss her greatly.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Buddy; a daughter, Robyn Sowers, Kokomo; two sisters, Judy Cummins, Arcadia, Susan Ringer and husband Jim, Atlanta, Indiana; several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was preceded in death by a godson, Dakota Lee Fry; a nephew, Bobby Jones; a sister-in-law Linda Jones and her husband Rocky.
A memorial service for Barbara will be at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15 at Young-Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Rex Dunning presiding. Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 p.m. until the time of the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Indian School, P.O. Box 326, Chamberlain, South Dakota, 57326.
Barbara and I went thru 12 years of school including Atlanta and Jackson Central. I enjoyed going to their house and getting to ride the ponies once in a while. But one time she put me on one that I only lasted about 5 minutes before it bucked me off, she laughed and laughed. My family and the Cummins family were neighbors and our dads helped one another on the farms when needed. Barbara is a great person. You have my deepest condolences.
Barbara…a true friend and “Cowgirl”. As written by Dale Evans: “Cowgirl is an attitude, really, a pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage. The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands. They speak up. They defend the things they hold dear. A cowgirl might be a rancher, or a barrel racer, or a bull rider, or an actress. But she’s just a likely to be a checker at the local Winn Dixie, a full-time mother, a banker, an attorney, or an astronaut.” …Loved our times together and will cherish and hold the memories forever in my heart.