(From Simpson Funeral Home)Barbara Jean Eppard died peacefully Friday, November 8, 2024, at Westgate Nursing Home in Joplin, Missouri, where she had been a neighbor for the last year. She was born in Mineral, Missouri, on April 2, 1937, to Roy Byler and Mary Tiberghien Byler.
Barbara grew up on her family’s farm and helped out there and in their Drive In, The Creamy Whip. She graduated from Webb City High School with the Class of 1955. During school she was on the Student Council, in Girls’ Chorus and Mixed Chorus, and played on a winning Volleyball team. She also participated in school plays and was a member of the International Thespians Society. Barbara was a very talented artist too. For many years, she looked forward to her Class Reunions.
The last time she joined them was in August of 2023. Even though she could not remember a lot of her classmates well, she enjoyed visiting with everyone.
After Graduation Barbara worked at Southwestern Bell in Webb City as a Switchboard Operator. When the Webb City office closed she was given the opportunity to transfer to Joplin or Monterey, California. She chose Monterey, and there she went on a Blind Date with Robert Eppard, who was stationed there in the Navy. They were married on January 15, 1961, and were married for 27 years before divorcing. Their daughter, Brenda was born while they were living in Monterey.
After Graduation Barbara worked at Southwestern Bell in Webb City as a Switchboard Operator. When the Webb City office closed she was given the opportunity to transfer to Joplin or Monterey, California. She chose Monterey, and there she went on a Blind Date with Robert Eppard, who was stationed there in the Navy. They were married on January 15, 1961, and were married for 27 years before divorcing. Their daughter, Brenda was born while they were living in Monterey.
Bob was transferred to Kenitra, Morocco, in 1963, and Wes joined the family. While they were there they traveled to the Strait of Gibraltar and Spain. Returning to the States, they lived in Jacksonville, Florida, and this was where Roy was born, completing the Eppard family. Mom was an Overseas Operator while we lived there. The family also lived in Kingsville, Texas, and Ewa Beach, Hawaii, before moving to Missouri when Bob retired. Mom always loved to travel. When Bob was stationed in Antarctica she took all of us on an epic summer trip in the station wagon to visit family in Missouri, New Mexico, and California. She visited Japan when Roy was stationed there with his family, and she also traveled to Brazil to see her AFS son, Fabio.
Barbara was an avid bowler, and she was the Captain of several bowling teams that traveled to various tournaments throughout the years. She worked for Carl Richard’s 4th Street Bowl for close to 30 years. She also loved watching her St. Louis Cardinals play, and she often talked of playing ball with her brothers and the Boyer brothers when they were growing up in Oronogo. She played golf and was very proud of the hole in one that she shot on her Birthday! She was a member of Missouri Right to Life and was a staunch Republican. She could talk for a long time about George W.!
Mom’s faith was very important to her, and one of Brenda’s earliest memories is sitting at the kitchen table when she was five years old and listening to Mom read the Bible to her. Mom was a member of the Christian Church of Carl Junction since 1977, and she was the Sunday School Secretary for years and sang in the choir. She went on several Mission Trips and attended Women’s Conferences. Her desire was for everyone to know Jesus as their Savior.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Roy Jr., Jim, and Raymond, and her sister June Washburn, two nephews John Washburn and Randy Byler, Donald Byler, and her AFS daughter, Martina. She is survived by her brother Gary Don Byler (Chris), daughter Brenda (Jim) Durbin, sons Wes (Paddi), and Roy (Takako), seven grandchildren, Jessica (Brett) Weber, Emily Durbin, Kyle (Millie) Eppard, Kacey (Kyle) Barnum, Chris Eppard, Caitlin (John) Andrus, and Trisha (Will) Eppard, and 10 great grandchildren, Mia Durbin, Elias Brady, Ema Durbin, Scout Weber, Easton Barnum, Atom Eppard, Milo Weber, Ezmyn Huckstep, Emerson Barnum, and Alexandria Eppard, and many nieces and nephews.
Our family would like to thank the staff at Westgate. Everyone was so helpful, loving, and supportive to Mom and our family. We could not have chosen a better home for her. We also appreciate Three Rivers Hospice for their care during Mom’s last weeks. They were a great source of help for us.
Dementia is a cruel disease. It robbed Mom of her past and present, but it did not steal her future. We know that she is looking into the face of her Savior, Jesus Christ, and rejoicing with loved ones who have gone before her. We are looking forward to seeing her someday when we are all together again!
Barbara was an avid bowler, and she was the Captain of several bowling teams that traveled to various tournaments throughout the years. She worked for Carl Richard’s 4th Street Bowl for close to 30 years. She also loved watching her St. Louis Cardinals play, and she often talked of playing ball with her brothers and the Boyer brothers when they were growing up in Oronogo. She played golf and was very proud of the hole in one that she shot on her Birthday! She was a member of Missouri Right to Life and was a staunch Republican. She could talk for a long time about George W.!
Mom’s faith was very important to her, and one of Brenda’s earliest memories is sitting at the kitchen table when she was five years old and listening to Mom read the Bible to her. Mom was a member of the Christian Church of Carl Junction since 1977, and she was the Sunday School Secretary for years and sang in the choir. She went on several Mission Trips and attended Women’s Conferences. Her desire was for everyone to know Jesus as their Savior.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Roy Jr., Jim, and Raymond, and her sister June Washburn, two nephews John Washburn and Randy Byler, Donald Byler, and her AFS daughter, Martina. She is survived by her brother Gary Don Byler (Chris), daughter Brenda (Jim) Durbin, sons Wes (Paddi), and Roy (Takako), seven grandchildren, Jessica (Brett) Weber, Emily Durbin, Kyle (Millie) Eppard, Kacey (Kyle) Barnum, Chris Eppard, Caitlin (John) Andrus, and Trisha (Will) Eppard, and 10 great grandchildren, Mia Durbin, Elias Brady, Ema Durbin, Scout Weber, Easton Barnum, Atom Eppard, Milo Weber, Ezmyn Huckstep, Emerson Barnum, and Alexandria Eppard, and many nieces and nephews.
Our family would like to thank the staff at Westgate. Everyone was so helpful, loving, and supportive to Mom and our family. We could not have chosen a better home for her. We also appreciate Three Rivers Hospice for their care during Mom’s last weeks. They were a great source of help for us.
Dementia is a cruel disease. It robbed Mom of her past and present, but it did not steal her future. We know that she is looking into the face of her Savior, Jesus Christ, and rejoicing with loved ones who have gone before her. We are looking forward to seeing her someday when we are all together again!
Visitation will be at 1:00 on Saturday, December 14, at Christian Church of Carl Junction (Connect). Barbara’s Celebration of Life will follow at 2:00. The family will gather for Internment at a later date.
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16
Services are under the personal care and direction of Simpson Funeral Home of Carl Junction. The family encourages relatives and friends to visit www.simpsonfh.com to share photos and memories of Barbara.
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