Barbara Conkle, 81, of Melbourne, Florida, passed away peacefully at the VITAS Inpatient Hospice Center in Rockledge, Florida on February 22, 2024. Born on March 28, 1942, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Barbara was the beloved wife of Roderick Conkle and devoted mother to Mark Conkle of Melbourne, Florida, Melody (Rodney) Owens of Willow Spring, North Carolina, and Matthew (Dawn) Conkle of Melbourne, Florida. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Barbara graduated from Melbourne High School in 1960. She furthered her education at Ohio State University and The College of Wooster, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1985, and later obtained a master’s degree in public administration in 1988 from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Barbara's dedication to education and her career was evident throughout her life and career as a professor at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and a reference librarian at the Satellite Beach library in Satellite Beach, Florida. She loved reading, teaching, gardening, and cooking. Although she was born and raised in Ohio, and even raised her children in Ohio, she was drawn to living in Florida near the beach.
Barbara was a loving grandmother to Michael Owens, Chase Conkle, and Kimberly Hilliard. She was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Colton Owens and Riley Hilliard.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Katherine Neighbarger, and her sisters Melvina Neighbarger and Sandra Neighbarger. She is survived by her sister Marla Wright. A memorial service was held at Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care, 1001 Hickory Street, Melbourne, FL 32901, on Saturday, March 2 at 1 p.m.
