Mrs. Barbara Ann Marks, 94, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, April 27, 2021, at Sundale Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care. She was born Nov. 20, 1926, in Rahway, N.J., third child of John Reed Newkirk and Mary Anna (Mehl) Newkirk. Barbara was preceded in death by her loving husband of 44 years, Edward W. Marks. Both her parents, her sister, Dorothy “Dottie” Newkirk (Walter) Olsen and brother, John Mehl Newkirk, have passed on.
“Bobby Ann” grew up in Rahway, N.J., where the family enjoyed trips into New York City, vacations to Florida and the New Jersey shore, as well as cruises to Cuba, Bermuda and other islands. As a young girl, Barbara enjoyed swimming, tennis, spending time “down the shore” and at Girl Scout camp. Upon her graduation from Rahway High School in 1944, Barbara went off to Wilson College. She graduated from Berkeley Secretarial School in East Orange, N.J., and began working as a legal secretary in Rahway. In 1949, while at a neighbor’s home, she met World War II veteran Edward William Marks, a chemist working at Merck and Co., Rahway, N.J.
Barbara and Edward were married in June 1950, enjoying a honeymoon in Bermuda. They returned to live in Rahway, followed by a move to Westfield, N.J., a few years later where they raised their two children. As members of The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, they were active in the Couples Club and Barbara in the Women’s Association. She was also a member of the Junior Women’s Club. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, camping and the outdoors and was an avid knitter, making sweaters, afghans, scarves, etc. for family and friends, as well as hundreds of toboggans for the Morgantown Warm Hands, Warm Hearts drive.
As a widow, Barbara moved to the Saint Louis area to be near her son, then to Heritage Point in Morgantown, upon its opening, to be near her daughter. As her health declined, Barbara became a resident of Sundale. The family would like to thank all of the staff for their loving care, making her feel at home. Gratitude is extended to WV Caring for their tender assistance with her final days.
Barbara is survived by her daughter, Claudia Ann (Edwin) Kugler, of Morgantown, and son, Reed Edward (Nanette) Marks, of Honey Brook, Pa.; five grandchildren, Scott (Angela) Kugler, of Los Angeles, David (Lillian) Kugler, of Lake Forest, Calif., Rebecca (George) Moran, of Dearborn Heights, Mich., Aaron Marks, of Englishtown, N.J., and Erica (Kevin) White, of Coatesville, Pa.; and five great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many other family members and friends who will miss her tenacious spirit.
A graveside service will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, South Pierpont Road, Morgantown, at 10 a.m., Thursday April 29, with the Rev. Dr. James Stinespring officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WV Caring.
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