Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters
July 10, 1929 – August 6, 2022
Des Moines (What Cheer), Iowa | Age 93

Barbara Walters, 93, of Des Moines, Iowa, and previously What Cheer, passed away on August 6, 2022 at the Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, Iowa. She was born on July 10, 1929 to Chester Leonard and Esther Elizabeth Middleton in Gibson, Iowa.

Barbara was raised on a farm outside of Gibson and attended Gibson High School where she graduated in 1947.

On May 15, 1948 she married her High School sweetheart, Carrol Walters, at the Oskaloosa Methodist Church.

They made their home in Gibson and operated the Post Office and the Cottage Café. Carrol and Barbara moved to What Cheer in 1952. Carrol became the rural mail carrier for the What Cheer Post Office.

Barbara cared for their son, Jerry. On April 10, 1953 their daughter Peggy was born. Barbara remained a housewife caring for their two children and continued to keep active in the community.

In a few years Carrol and Barbara became interested in farming and gradually began their journey as farmers. Barbara loved being outdoors and the flowers surrounding their house were her pride and joy. She also loved the farm work because as a child on the farm her father raised her to be the “tomboy” in the family engaging her in much of the farm chores, which she loved. She also loved her black horse, which she would ride into Gibson on many occasions.

Barbara was active in the What Cheer community and a member of the United Methodist Church where she was a Youth Group leader and participated in the Women’s Groups. She was also a 4-H Leader and a Girl Scout Leader. Barbara was very active with her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren and they loved her dearly. It was always a treat for them to go stay with Grandma and Grandpa Walters. Carrol and Barbara spent their later years in Arizona during the winter months but always came back to the farm to enjoy the Spring, Summer and Fall on the farm. They moved to West Des Moines in 2009.

She is now with the love of her life, Carrol, as expressed in her favorite poem:

I Belong With You

Here I am with you again, right where I belong

With your loving arms around me, is what I really longed

Our days apart were too many, I know that is what you would say

But to me, each day away from you, was like eternity

So, here I am with you again and what I truly longed

With your loving arms wrapped around me, I know where I belong.

She is survived by a daughter, Peggy (& Steve) Calvert of West Des Moines; a son, Jerry Walters of Las Vegas, Nevada; three grandchildren, Amanda (& Alan) Kruse, Brooke Gracey of Imperial Beach, California, and Brett Walters of Las Vegas, Nevada; two great grandchildren, Jacob Kruse U.S. Air Force and Keon Kruse of West Des Moines.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Carrol; her parents; and a sister, Betty.

Burial will be held privately in the Sixteen Cemetery near Thornburg.
The family is requesting that memorial donations be made to Unity Point Hospice, Des Moines, Iowa.