Barbara Nell Peeper , age 89 and a lifelong resident of the Elwood community, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 15, 2019 in Elwood following a brief illness.  She was born December 19, 1929 in Elwood, the daughter of Burr "Lindall" and Judie "Tillie" (Meyer) Leisure.  Barbara played bass violin at Wendell L. Willkie High School where she graduated in 1947, and later attended Earlham College.  She grew up on the family farm and remained dedicated to farming all of her life.  She was employed by the Elwood Community School Corporation for 28 years, first as Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools and later as Treasurer.  During this time, she was a member of the Indiana Association of Educational Professionals (IAEP).  Barbara was blessed with three loving husbands, and was last married to Joseph C. Peeper on October 28  1988.  They shared over 26 years of marriage together until his passing in 2015.

Barbara attended Harmony Christian Church in Leisure, and  more recently was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church in Alexandria..  She was an active member of the Elwood Beta Chapter of Delta Theta Tau Sorority for nearly 50 years.  She was also a member of the "Purple Tomatoes" Red Hat Society.  In her earlier years Barbara was a member of the former "Mix and Fix" Home Economics Club, and an avid supporter of both the Madison County 4-H program and THE Ark Christian Ministries (originally Pearson's Mill Christian assembly).

Barbara loved both overseas and domestic travel.  She and Joe traveled to Haiti and actively supported the Damou Christian mission.  She was a skilled cook and her family particularly looked forward to her chicken and noodles, oyster dressing, and date pudding.  She loved parades, fishing, theater, fairs, horse shows, air shows, and gospel and bluegrass music.  In recent months, she was  passionate about playing bingo with her new treasured friends.  Barbara's faith, family, and friends were her greatest sources of joy and happiness.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Barbara's family legacy includes 3 children, Pamela (husband Alan) Floyd of Elwood, Pennie Edyvean of Elwood, and Bruce (wife Katrina) Williams of Bloomington; 4 step-children, Michael (wife Janene) Peeper of Elwood, Patrick (wife Linda) Peeper of Fort Wayne, Susan (husband Mark) Brown of Ft. Pierce, FL  and Marc (wife Debbie) Peeper of Boise, ID; sister, Martha Jo (husband Dale) Adams of Herndon, VA; 20 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews who were all very special to her.  Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; 3 husbands, Richard M. Williams in 1965, Bobby E. Kurtz in 1977, and Joseph C. Peeper in 2015; and an infant brother at birth.

A funeral service celebrating Barbara's life will be conducted at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in Alexandria with Rev. Dr. Michael Deutsch officiating.  Burial will take place privately in Knox Chapel Cemetery in Fairmount on Friday.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 3:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood, and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the First Baptist Church in Alexandria.  A Delta Theta Tau Memorial Service will take place at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evening at the funeral home.  Memorial contributions  may be made to the Damou Christian Mission in Haiti or THE Ark Christian Ministries & Camp in Converse, both through the funeral home.  Online condolences and memories may be shared at copherfeslermay.com .