Barbara Pinkerton Keeley, 80, of Bowling Green, Ohio passed away March 23, 2024. Barb will be remembered as a loving partner and mother, an avid reader and walker, a passionate exerciser and a caring friend.
Born on April 26th, 1943 in Morgantown WV, Barb grew up in Iowa. She lost her father at a young age and was very close to her mother and sisters. Barb attended Nursing School in Cedar Rapids Iowa and met her husband, Stuart Keeley (deceased, Dec 2, 2020), while he was bussing tables in the Nurse’s cafeteria. They married on May 18th 1963, in Burlington, Iowa, moved to Champaign, Illinois while Stu completed his Ph.D. and moved to Bowling Green, Ohio in 1967. There they raised their children while Barb worked first at Wood County Hospital and, after she got her MS in Nursing, at BGSU as head of advising in the department of health and human services.
She took many road trips around the United States where she enjoyed hiking in the National Parks, buying books for the grandkids and sampling each region’s milk shakes. She enjoyed her grandchildren, hosting various groups of kids for sleepovers that included tenting in the backyard, taking them on bike rides and to the park and later enjoying gathering together for dinner and celebrations.
Barb loved learning, reading and traveling but her passion was exercise. She started playing basketball in high school, was a hard core paddle ball and tennis player, ran and won many 5 and 10K races and, up until the end of her life, was an avid cross fit participant.
Barb was very lucky in the last few years to have started a new phase of her life with her partner Al. They enjoyed reading and walking together and explored many local places. Al introduced Barb to a world of art and music in Cleveland, and they also enjoyed traveling together on the train.
Barb is survived by her children (and many grandchildren) who will miss her dearly: Kim Scherer of Austria; Mary Vasudeva (Vivek Vasudeva) of San Ramon, CA; Teresa Keeley of Las Vegas, NV; and Stuart James Keeley (Angela Keeley) of Florida.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support the Wood County Public Library. Checks can be made payable to the WCDPL Library Foundation (please include “in memory of Barb Keeley” in the memo area), and mailed to, 251 N Main, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402.
The family will be having a private gathering.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home, Bowling Green. www.hannemanfuneralhomes.com.
