Barbara E. Whitney

Barbara E. Whitney age 89, of Lima passed away peacefully at 11:00 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021 at home surrounded by her family. She was born June 27, 1932 in Columbus, OH to the late Alexander Robert Tarr and Marian (Jeffries) Reber and was raised by the late Arthur Lloyd Reber. She married John Robert Whitney June 8, 1957 and he preceded her in death in 2002.
Barbara was an Equestrian in Green Springs and loved horseback riding with her father who raised and bred Arabian horses at his estate in Green Springs, Ohio. She also enjoyed sailing on her father’s yacht when she spent the summers with him at Put-in-Bay, on South Bass Island, Lake Erie. She attended Stephan’s College for Girls in Missouri and went on to complete her BA at the Michigan Normal School. She was a wonderful wife and mother. She and her husband John enjoyed camping in the Allegheny Mountains. Barbara was very artistic- painting in watercolors, making greeting cards, taking photographs, writing poems and short stories. She also enjoyed cooking, bird watching, gardening and listening to classical music. Barbara helped start The Equestrian Therapy Program at Fassett Farms where she volunteered for 20 years. She worked at Lima Memorial as the department head of the Occupational Therapy for 20 years. Barbara attended Shawnee United Methodist Church and helped lead the Triple O club, (On Our Own) after John’s death. She also was very active in the Emmaus share group for many years.
Barbara is survived by children: Mark Howard (Lilian) Whitney of Columbus, OH and Elizabeth Roberts Whitney of Lima, 7 grandchildren: Justin Goodwin, Joshua Shrader, Bryan Turner, Lauren Turner, Hannah Anderson, Robert Otten and Emerson Otten, sister Lindsey Anne Reber of Rochester, NY and a son-in-law Kim Otten of Strongsville, OH.
She was preceded in death by children: Robert Wydler Whitney and Marilyn Anne Otten and a daughter-in-law Renee Whitney.
The family will receive friends Monday, Sept. 13 at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville from 5 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Lori Reiber and Rev. Chris Heckamen officiating, burial will follow in Shawnee Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to the following charities: The Equestrian Therapy Program, 22532 Bowsher Road Lima, OH 45806 or to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 42040 Oklahoma City, OK 73123.