Barbara Lee (Faber) Elliott
L&G
Lewis & Gillum Funeral Homes
28 Harding Ave., Jackson, Ohio 45640
(p) 740-286-2010
Barbara Lee (Faber) Elliott, from Lexington, Kentucky, went to be with the Lord peacefully on Tuesday, February 13th, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.
Barbara was born in Charleston, West Virginia, on August 21, 1941. She was the third child of Brooks and Evelyn Faber. She spent the first 11 years of her life playing with her five brothers and sisters in the creeks and woods that surrounded their small family farm outside Charleston. The family moved to North Carolina, where Brooks found work as a pipe fitter for two years. In 1954, they moved for the last time to Jackson, Ohio, in order for Brooks to work on the building of a new nuclear fission plant in nearby Piketon.
While Barbara was attending Jackson High School, she began to date Jon Elliott. Upon Jon’s graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, the two married in 1961. Daniel (Alma) was born in 1962, followed by Isaac (Kimberly) in 1964, and James in 1968. During this period, Jon was frequently out to sea, serving in Vietnam or repairing naval vessels in different parts of the world while Barbara cared for the kids back at home, which she loved and did with vigor. The family particularly enjoyed the adventure of living in Naples, Italy, where Jon was posted from 1973-1975.
In 1976, after Jon settled into the Pentagon and the boys were all in school, Barbara attended nursing school at George Mason University, graduating with honors. She began work as a registered nurse in 1980, first in Northern Virginia and then in 1992, in Lexington, Kentucky. Her career as a nurse continued until 2000, when arthritis forced an early retirement.
Nursing illustrated Barbara’s servant spirit, which was also reflected in her participation in lay ministry at Central Christian Church through “Stephen’s Ministry,” where she participated in the choir and ministered as a parish nurse. In the community, she was also active with “Habitat for Humanity.”
In her free time Barbara was an avid quilter, gardener (as a “master gardner”)
and voracious reader. Biographies were her favorite genre, as she was eager to learn about people’s unique abilities and contributions to society, as well as to gain a window into differing conditions in other places and times. Barbara traveled around the world, including trips to Albania and El Salvador, where Dan and Jim were serving as Missionaries. She and Jon served on Mercy Ships, where she used her nursing skills in treating people who were impoverished in developing countries.
Barb’s curiosity and hunger to learn about nature was a hallmark of her life. She initiated a whole family backpacking trip in 1976, in Shenandoah National Park, soon after moving back to Virginia. This and the beautiful gardens she cultivated reflected her love of nature and connection to the land. These were traits that she inherited from her father.
Health issues plagued Barbara over the past several years, including arthritis, broken bones, and a 100-day stay in intensive care involving a mysterious lung infection that almost took her life in 2018. She miraculously survived, but was never able to regain full strength, making her susceptible to illnesses that eventually weakened her to such an extent that she was no longer able to recover.
Throughout her whole life, from solo parenting while Jon was at sea, through her pain and suffering into her last years and days, Barbara’s love, faith, grace, and radiant smile persisted. Indeed, she ministered to her family even when she was bedridden.
Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Jon; her three sons; three grandsons; and three great-grandsons, all of whom adore her and will miss her deeply.
Viewing and Visitation will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 19, at Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), followed by the Funeral Service and reception at 12:00 p.m. The service will be streamed for those who can’t make it in person. A link will be provided here soon.
There will be a celebration of life on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 5:00 PM at the Lewis & Gillum Funeral Home in Jackson. The service will be followed by a reception. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisgillum.com.