Barbara Jean Shepherd

Barbara Jean (Hocker) Shepherd, 85, of Greenfield, passed away at home on Friday, July 19, 2019.  She was born on July 24, 1933 in Indianapolis to the late Frederick W. and Edella E. (Johnson) Hocker.  Barbara grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Broad Ripple High School in 1951.  It was there that she met her future husband, Philip Birk Shepherd; they were married 54 years before his death in 2006.

Barbara is survived by her three children, Philip B. (Valerie) Shepherd, Jr., James F. Shepherd and Linda C. (Roger) Rittenhouse; 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter.  She is also survived by her siblings, Betty Lou (John) Hill, Richard Lee Hocker and Peggy Ann (Will) Cronkrite.

Barbara was artistic, expressing creative talents through drawing, painting, ceramics, upholstery, antique restoration and home remodeling.  She was a homemaker, seamstress, ceramist, architectural draftsman and gifted gardener.

Barbara was a member of the Greenfield Community Choir.  She and Birk spent many wonderful years in the South Venice area of Florida where they enjoyed being active in the Fun Chorus.  They also had many happy times at the family’s old timey log cabin in the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2019 from 10-11am at Flanner Buchanan – Washington Park East.  Funeral services will follow at 11am with Ron Kraus officiating.  Friends are invited to leave online condolences for the family at www.flannerbuchanan.com.