Barbara Jean Bale, 78, was born in Oklahoma City, OK on September 19, 1935 and passed away in La Mirada, CA on June 14, 2014. Barbara was previously employed with Boeing in the Aerospace Industry as a Word Processor for 20 years. She had been a Downey resident for 45 years and had graduated from Bell Gardens High School in 1953. She was the daughter of the late Oma and Bill Evans, both of Oklahoma. She traveled by train in 1942 with her family to California from Oklahoma at age 7 where the family settled in Bell Gardens. Barbara was creative, loved to cook, sew, shop and garden. She loved the thrill of the hunt at garage sales and swap meets. She loved cheering at her children's and grandchildren's football, basketball and baseball games. She always had a welcoming home and welcomed many friends and family to visit, live and stay with her over the years. She personally cared for her father, mother, in-laws and aunt in their last days. An active walker for many years she enjoyed walking in Downey and in the park near her home. She was an active member of Messiah Lutheran Church where her faith in God grew year by year. While working at North American Rockwell she was a word processor. She perfected a technique for creating purchase orders for the Space Shuttle. The company sent her to Florida to train other word processors there in the technique.

In recent years, she especially liked living around the corner from her son Larry and his family and visiting her son Tom in Lake Havasu and her daughter Pattie in Ramona.  Most of all she loved her grandsons and spending time with them. She was very excited about the birth of her great granddaughter Olivia. While only three months old, Olivia held a very special place in her heart.

A Funeral Service was held on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 10:00 am, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Downey.  Interment took place at Rose Hills Memorial Park.

A Barbara Bale Memorial Fund has been established at Messiah Lutheran Church. If you would like to contribute please make your check payable to Messiah Lutheran Church and in the memo line of the check write the Barbara Bale Memorial Fund. Mail your check to Messiah Lutheran Church, 10711 Paramount Blvd., Downey, CA 90241  10711 Paramount Bl., Downey, CA. 90241.

Barbara is survived by her daughter, Pattie Lynn Bale (Stephen) Griffin of Ramona, CA., her sons, Tommy Robert Bale of Lake Havasu and Larry W. (Diane) Bale of La Mirada, and her grandchildren, Matt (Krysti) Griffin, David Griffin and J.T. and Jake Bale and one great granddaughter, Olivia Griffin.  She also leaves her sister, Billie Battles of Hartselle, AL and her brother, Richard (Sandy) Evans of Arlington, TX. She is preceded in death by her husband of 24 1/2, years, Thomas Robert Bale.  They were married on July 16, 1954.

Risher Mortuary & Cremation Service were Funeral Directors. Condolences may be sent to the family through our web site, www.rishermortuary.com.

**********

Published: June 26, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 11