Barbara R. Davis

Barbara K. Davis, 88, passed away peacefully at her home in West Palm Beach, FL, on December 27, 2024, surrounded by her beloved children.

Born on July 8, 1936, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Barbara grew up with her family on Bald Eagle Lake. The eldest daughter of Kenneth Clifford Rude, who owned a furniture store and later an ice cream shop in White Bear Lake, and Helen Mlesko, an elementary school teacher, Barbara’s early life was shaped by a strong sense of family and community.

A proud graduate of White Bear Lake High School and the University of Minnesota (Class of 1958), Barbara studied Early Education and was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. It was at the University of Minnesota that she met Robert J. “Bob” Davis, who would become the love of her life. They married on June 21, 1958, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Paul, and together they built a life filled with love and adventure.

Bob, an employee of 3M, and Barbara, a dedicated elementary school teacher, raised four children. Their lives took an exciting turn in 1967 when the family moved to Panama City, Panama, where they lived for two years. There, Barbara fondly recalled many adventures, including family trips to Santa Clara Beach and The Canal Zone. In 1969, the family relocated to Florida, where they would remain for the rest of their lives.

Barbara and Bob’s commitment to family and community was evident in their many years in the South Florida area. The friends & families from the Palmetto Bay area still have close ties today. In 2018, they moved to the City of Atlantis, where they embraced a new chapter of their lives, playing golf, bridge, and building lasting friendships. They also spent over 15 wonderful summers in Sugar Mountain, NC, hosting family gatherings and cherishing time with loved ones. Barbara was a woman of many talents and interests. A gifted cook, artist, seamstress, golfer, and bridge player, she also enjoyed a rewarding career as a realtor. Yet, her greatest joy came from her role as a devoted mother and wife. Her sunny disposition, combined with her impeccable style and grace, made her a beacon of positivity to all who knew her. Her favorite color, yellow, reflected her bright, uplifting personality.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Robert J. Davis; her parents, Helen “Grammy” and Clifford “Pompa” Rude; and her brothers, Thedore A. Rude and Robert Rude. She leaves behind a loving family: her sister, Marcia Fournelle (John); her children, Tracy Jo Moore, Betsy Jean Fantis (Dennis), Valerie Ann Davis, and Robert J. Davis Jr (Megan).; and seven grandchildren, Thomas, Shelby (Ryan), Christie, Kaylee, Peyton, Tripp, Schyler; as well as her great-grandson, Benjamin Joseph Hahn. Barbara is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Barbara’s kindness, strength, and generosity of spirit will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her family takes great comfort in knowing she is reunited with the love of her life, Bob.

A funeral service will be held at St Gregory Episcopal Church in Boca Raton, FL on Friday, January 17 at 12:15pm. To view the service, click on either below link:

http://www.stgregorysepiscopal.org/

http://www.facebook.com/SaintGregorys

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Barbara’s memory to St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund in honor of Barbara Davis: http://pushpay.com/g/stgregorysepiscopal?src=hpp

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara R. Davis, please visit our floral store.