CCHS Alumni Database Header

Columbia City High School
Alumni Database

HOME

* = Has Email

** = Deceased

Tips for Entering Your Profile

ADD A NAME

REUNION INFO

MAIN INDEX

CLASS MEMORIES

WEBMASTER

Throughout her working days, Barb was known for her strong work ethic. She spent 37 years in the insurance industry, working first at Lincoln Life in Fort Wayne, and then in 2001, for Swiss Re Service, who bought her division at LL and was moved to their office building in Fort Wayne. Here, Barb was an Assistant Vice President until retiring. Barb was also active in her community throughout her life. She was a member of the Elks Lodge #1417 and attended Columbia City United Methodist Church.

Barb was blessed to find her true love, Jerry Paris, a bit later in life, though they had actually first met during their junior year in high school. The two never dated but were good friends who went their separate ways after graduation. It wasn't until years later when Barb went to her sister-in-law's 50th birthday party in 2007 that their paths crossed again, and their love story began. After a two year courtship, Barb and Jerry were happily married on June 13, 2009, on their deck, overlooking Shriner Lake.

For Barb, family was the greatest source of happiness in her life. She loved to host many great family get togethers, and every year, Barb and her neighbor would host the "Shrinerpalooza" at their lake house on Shriner Lake, which brought both of their families and close friends together for a great time. Many even came to think of this as their annual family reunion! When she wasn't being the host, Barb enjoyed taking pontoon rides, going to dinner at the Elks on Friday nights, and without fail, she and Jerry went to visit her parents every Thursday at 5:00 p.m. Always thinking of others, Barb never missed an opportunity to send a gift or card filled with all her love to family and friends for a birthday or special occasion.

Barb was a woman of great strength and strong will, who persevered through many trials that came her way - and there were many in her lifetime. Already as a baby, Barb had to fight as she suffered with breathing problems, and at the age of 28, she battled her first round with cancer - and beat it. Her most heart wrenching challenge though came in 1996 when she lost her beloved son, Adam, who was a senior in high school. He left behind a son, River, who became Barb's driving force in life, and she took great pride in helping to raise him. Nothing warmed her heart more than spending time with her grandson; they went on many great vacations together and even attended motorcycle races. Barb was a die-hard fan of the Chicago Bears, and this past spring River and Grandpa Jerry made her a flower garden in the colors of the Bears with a Chicago Bear mushroom as the centerpiece. She was proud to have that in her yard! It was easy to see that Barb adored all of her family, and it was when she was surrounded by their love that she felt richly blessed. With her beloved family by her side, Barb lost her 2nd battle with cancer on Tuesday, September 2, 2014, at her home on Tri-Lakes at 6:23 p.m. She will be deeply missed.

Survivors include her husband, Jerry Paris; parents, Roger and Marilyn Fry of Columbia City; brother, Michael (Glenna) Fry of Columbia City; sister, Jane (Max) Goldwood and Elizabeth Hartman both of Columbia City; daughter-in-law, Kimberly Keener of Huntington; grandson, River Kolb; and granddaughters, Celest Holley and Isabel Saldivar; and her mother-in-law, Dorothy Mance. She was preceded in death by her son, Adam Kolb, on November 21, 1996; niece, Rachel Sheets, nephew, Nathan Fry, and her father-in-law, Melvin Mance.

Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 5, and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, with funeral service immediately following at 10 a.m. Saturday at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Pastor David Arnold will be officiating. Friends and family will gather for Barb's committal and burial on Sunday, September 7, at 10 a.m. at Thorn Cemetery, Ormas. Memorials may be given in memory of Mrs. Paris to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, Fort Wayne.
">

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU! You can upload photographs of yourself here, either a senior picture or one of you now. Before uploading, please size your pictures to about 85 pixels wide x 125 pixels tall(4" x 6" maximum size), with a resolution of 72-300 dpi. This keeps the images small but still viewable. To replace a picture you have already uploaded, just upload a new picture in its place. Thanks.
Photo to Upload:
Short Caption For Photo:
Type Of Photo:	Senior Photo Recent Photo

Database Footer

Class Coordinators needed. If your class does not have a Class Coordinator listed with its officers, you can volunteer by clicking here: webmaster@cchsaa.org. For more info, click here