Barbara June Howkinson, December 9, 1935, Returned to Sender July 22. 2025
The only daughter of Gordon and June Sparks, Barbara shared her early life with cousins Bonnie, Lyman, Anita and the neighboring Kraus kids, especially Martha. Born in Monticello Indiana. After high school she attended Indianapolis Methodist hospital earning her RN degree. After graduating, she married her high school sweetheart Jack Howkinson after his discharge from the US Marine Corp in 1957. They moved to Muncie for Jack to attend Ball State and Barbara worked at Ball Memorial Hospital.
After graduation, a teaching job brought their family of four to Rochester. In 1967 Barbara returned to college and earned her degree from Manchester College in Home Economics education. She taught for 5 years at the North Miami School System.
Barbara had various employment adventures after teaching High School. She served as the Rochester Chamber Director and was part of the team that brought the Farm Progress Show to Fulton County in 1989.
In the 80’s as a lifelong travel adventurer, Barbara found a way to combine her love of travel and love of cooking to open her home and offer cooking lessons. She took Chinese cooking lessons, travelled to Italy to cooking school and had lessons with Julia Child at The Greenbriar in West Virginia. Chinese lessons were the start, followed by Italian and bread and soup making.
Her last career move in the 90”s was to acquire her insurance license and work alongside her daughter in the enrollment industry, travelling throughout the US educating employees about their benefit options. Jack also joined in the fun after his retirement.
Travel was a passion for Barbara and throughout her lifetime, she visited 173 countries. She went on several mission trips to Zimbabwe, Haiti, Honduras and the Amazon.
A lifelong theater buff, she often enjoyed a trip to New York and Broadway. She could see 7 shows in 5 days. Of note, she was blessed to have seen Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl, Ethel Merman in Gypsy, Carol Channing in Hello Dolly, Yul Brenner in the King and I, Jerry Lewis in Damn Yankees to name a few. She also was a member of Fulton County Players and was in Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man and Oklahoma, but her starring role was in the musical Two by Two, the story of Noah. She played Noah’s wife, Esther.
A 63-year member of Grace United Methodist Church, she served in most roles over the years. A special favorite was when asked to start a young adult Sunday School Class nicknamed the Banana Bunch.
Barbara leaves behind Her Daughter, Mary Beth Fox (Jimmy) of Daytona Beach Florida and Mark Howkinson (Penny) of Fairbanks, Indiana. Grandchildren Amelya, Tyler (Emberly), Adrian (Brandon) and Gabriella and three great grandchildren. She gained her name MamMam in this season of her life and she absolutely loved it and as great grandchildren arrived, she became MamMam the Great. Her special friend and late in life companion, Howard Hoffman.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the missions that were closest to Barbara’s heart. Mi Esperanza, a women’s mission in Honduras that educates women offering a chance to elevate themselves and their families out of poverty. PO Box 73, Mandeville, LA or The Spanish Evangelical Mission that Amelya works with supporting a soup kitchen, and gospel choir in Spain that Amelya performs throughout the country with. Make checks payable to Grace Church, 201 W 7th St, Rochester, IN 46975 and specify Charity in Memo. The family will be doubling all contributions.
A celebration of the life of Barbara June Howkinson will be at 1:00 PM Saturday, August 9, 2025 at the Grace Church, 201 West 7th Street, Rochester. Pastor Brad Hisey will officiate. Her family will greet friends an hour prior to her service. The Good Family Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Online expressions of sympathy may be made the Barbara’s family at www.goodfamilyfh.com
