Barbara Ellen Luce

Barbara Ellen Luce was born on April 19, 1938, in Monticello, Arkansas, to Howard Lee Boykin and Athalee Gertrude (Funderberg) Boykin. She is proceeded in death by her parents, and infant brother Caldwell Lee Boykin. She is survived by her sisters, Wanda Sue Brown, and Shirley Lee Alexander, along with their families.

Barbara was the beloved wife of the late Thomas Robert Luce and a devoted mother to Thomas (Nikki) Luce II, Karen (Gerald) Church, the late Steven Luce, and Diane (Wesley) Brauch. She cherished her role as grandmother to ten grandchildren and great-grandmother to nine.

Throughout her life, Barbara balanced her roles as a homemaker and a dedicated employee. She worked as a teller at Bank of America in Bell, California, a secretary at Bethel-Tate High School in Bethel, Ohio, in Hospital Admissions at Clermont Mercy Hospital in Batavia, Ohio, and as an Office Manager for Dr. Hardis Rathod in Mt. Carmel, Ohio. Barbara was also a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Society of the Mayflower Descendants. In her later years Barbara discovered a feeling of fulfillment, participating in political activism in California and Nevada.

Barbara was devoted to her family; she loved her husband and children deeply. She took pride in creating a beautiful home, filled with family pictures, her collection of Fenton glassware, and thriving plants. Her love for gardening was evident in the flowers, trees, and house plants she grew, and she found much joy in the birds that visited her yard. Barbara loved all animals, especially her ginger cat Georgie, whose antics constantly delighted her.

In her final years, Barbara lived in California and Nevada with her daughter Karen and son-in-law Jerry Church. She treasured time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Barbara loved visiting and being visited by her sisters Wanda and Shirley and loved seeing and hearing about their children. Barbara enjoyed trips to see the giant redwoods and California's rugged coast and loved searching for treasures with Karen and Jerry in local thrift and antique stores. She especially loved watching Giants baseball games with Jerry and having family dinners with Karen and Jerry and her grandchildren.

Barbara enjoyed long vacations staying with her son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Nikki Luce in Florida. She loved the time spent with their children and traveling throughout Florida and neighboring states, camping, going to the beach, and especially embarking on a cruise with Tom and Nikki to the Bahamas. When back home, Barbara looked forward to frequent telephone calls with Nikki and Tom to share recent events.

Barbara passed away peacefully at home in Nevada on September 2, 2025, surrounded by loved ones, her beloved cat Georgie, and with treasured memories of recent visits by those she loved so dearly.

Family and friends are invited to gather at Evans Funeral Home, Milford, on Friday, September 12th from 6-8 PM. Services will take place on Saturday at Tate Township Cemetery in Bethel, Ohio, beginning at 10 AM.