Barbara Lillian Summers

Barbara Lillian Summers, the daughter of Harold and Alice (Burkhardt) Summers, was born March 5, 1934, in Audubon, Iowa and died August 6, 2016, at her home in Concord, Massachusetts at the age of 82 years, 5 months, and 1 day.
Barbara was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon, Iowa. She attended Audubon Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1952. She studied at the University of Iowa and graduated with a major in Speech and minors in English and Secondary Education in 1956. While attending the University she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. In keeping with her Scottish ancestry, she was a member of the University of Iowa Scottish Highlanders. Barbara played snare and tenor drums. They performed at Iowa football games both home and away. They also performed throughout the State of Iowa, in Chicago, and at the Colorado State Fair. Their big tour was a trip to Europe with stops in Washington, D.C. and New York City. New York included an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. The band performed in DC, New York, England, and Scotland. It was a wonderful way to finish her college career.
Barbara taught Speech, English, and Debate in Shenandoah, Iowa and Wheaton, Illinois. She later served as a Guidance Counselor for six years. Barbara then was employed as an employment counselor for Grey Hound Personnel and later became a manager for one of their offices. She then opened her own business, Summers Personnel Services, which supplied permanent office support positions for the western Chicago suburbs. She retired in 2005. In 2014 she moved to her present home in Concord, Massachusetts.
Barbara loved to travel and travelled extensively internationally and nationally. She enjoyed playing golf, bridge, and tennis. But most of all she enjoyed visiting and being with her family.
Preceding her in death was her parents and her sister Joan Hall. Survivors include her brother-in-law Robert and wife Judy Hall; her nieces and nephews and spouses Ellen and Kevin McEllin, Katie Hall and Tom Knutsen, Liz Hall and Beth Ennis, Tim and Regina Hall, Laura and Michael Cashel, Margy and Paul Whyte, Ed Hall and Jessica Messer, and Jean and Colin Muir; 25 great nieces and great nephews, other relatives and many friends.
The Celebration of Life Memorial Mass will be conducted by Reverend Antony Mathew on Saturday, August 20, 2016, at 10:30 A.M. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon, Iowa. Inurnment will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery south of Audubon, Iowa.