Barbara Ann Painter, 60, passed away on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, in Hershey, PA. She was a beloved wife, mother of two daughters, grandmother of two, sister to nine siblings, and an aunt and friend to many.
Barb was born in Butler County, PA on Sept. 1, 1960, and grew up in Hilliards, PA. She was the eighth of 10 children born to her mother, Emogene Hindman, and father, Paul Hindman. Paul was a long-haul trucker and she would joke that every time her father came home there would be a new child waiting for him and when he left there would be another one on the way.
Barb graduated from Moniteau Junior-Senior High School in the class of 1978. She was a cheerleader, ran track, and played basketball. After high school, she joined the Air Force and served her country proudly for four years. She spoke fondly of the time she spent stationed in England and her travels around Europe. After leaving the Air Force, Barb went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and worked in IT instructional design for over 20 years. She was most recently the Manager of Instructional Design for The Hershey Company.
Barb was a loving and dedicated mother to her two daughters, Chelsea and Ciara, and the cherished wife of John Painter. She always said that John was her perfect match and that ended up being true after he was found to be the perfect match to donate his kidney to her in 2018. She loved John for his big heart and the way he cared for her daughters like they were his own. They were truly soul mates.
Barb was known for her red hair, quick wit and sarcasm, and her legendary lasagna and apple pie. Her longtime staples were iced tea, chips and salsa, and mercilessly beating everyone she played in the game Phase 10. Her favorite place to be was sitting on a beach under an umbrella with the people she loved and her toes in the sand.
She was always there for others and would go out her way for anyone to make them feel special and loved. It didn’t matter who you were, she would make a point to find out your favorite things so she could give you the perfect gift. She touched so many people throughout her life and will be remembered for her selfless giving and love.
Barb is survived by her husband, John Painter (Hershey, PA), daughter, Ciara Suggs (Palmyra, PA), daughter, Chelsea Boyle, her husband, Kylie Boyle, and their daughters, Avery and Alexis (Sandy, Utah), step-sons, Matthew Painter (Annville, PA) and Ryan Painter (Harrisburg, PA), sister, Janet Hiatt (Celina, TX), brother, Don Hindman (Emlenton, PA), sister, Susan Dunkle (Raymond Dunkle of Clintonville, PA), and multiple nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by parents, Paul and Emogene Hindman, sisters, Karen Crisman, Mary Louise Gold, and Sandy Elias, and brothers, Ken Hindman, Larry Hindman, and Jim Hindman.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021 at noon at the Encounter Church of Palmyra, 220 Campbelltown Rd., Palmyra, PA 17078. A time of visitation will take place from 10 a.m. until the start of the service. Burial will take place at a later date at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. All services will be held in compliance with COVID-19 regulations.
