Graber, Barbra Rich (1891-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Aug 12 p. 11

Birth date: 1891 Aug 17

text of obituary:

BARBRA RICH GRABER

Barbra Rich Graber lived 79 years and ten months in or near Wayland, Iowa. She was born near Noble, Iowa on Aug. 17, 1891, daughter of Joseph Rich and Verena (Widmer) Rich. She died in Iowa City, Iowa, on July 13, 1971, and was buried at Wayland on July 15, 1971.

Two early experiences brought her life into focus. As a teenager she dedicated herself to Christ and sealed her vows with baptism in the context of the Sugar Creek congregation.

In the second experience she married Joseph Graber on Jan. 30, 1912. Fifty-nine years of married life cemented by Christian love and commitment provided a context for bearing, rearing, and encouraging ten children, six daughters and four sons, all of them married with families of their own. There are 38 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Three grandchildren preceded their Grandma Graber in death.

The children are: Mrs. Dale Swartzendruber (Beulah Mae), Wayland, Iowa; Mrs. Charles Frederick (Sara Lu), Iowa city, Iowa; Mrs. Wilbur Swartzendruber (Lois), Wellman, Iowa; Mrs. Max Roth (Berniece), Wayland, Iowa; Mrs. Roger Wyse (Rachel), Bloomfield, Iowa; Virgil Graber, Wayland, Iowa; Clarence Graber, Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Raymond Graber, Mount Pleasant, Iowa; and Mrs. Boyd Nelson (Welma), Elkhart, Ind.

One sister, Mrs. P. J. Graber (Sarah), preceded Barbra in death, and she leaves a third sister, Mrs. Lester Krabill (Lena).

Barbra's entire life has been a testimony to her commitment to fearing God and to loving service to her husband, her children and family, and her neighbors. We thank God for the witness of Christian love and commitment which has come to us through the life of this "capable wife" who was wife, mother, sister, grandmother, neighbor, and friend.