January 21, 1962 – July 29, 2017
Natalie Jane Barber, 55, passed away Saturday, July 29th, 2017 after her bravely fought battle with cancer. She was born January 21st, 1962 to Iva “Coldiron” Williams in West Plains, Missouri.
Natalie spent her early childhood years with her grandparents, Mary and Lawrence Coldiron, in West Plains, MO, but moved to Oklahoma City with her mother and stepfather, Richard Williams. She attended Western Heights High School in Oklahoma City and played the flute in the marching band there, graduating in 1980. Natalie attended Central State University and was a member of Sigma Kappa sorority. She graduated with her B.A. in Sociology in 1986. While attending college, she met her future husband Adam Barber in their nutrition course. Adam and Natalie were married in 1985.
Natalie worked for Central State University before becoming a stay-at-home mom after the birth of her first child, Jessica in 1993. Natalie began working at Washington Irving Elementary in 2006 when her son Andrew was a fourth grader there. She worked at Washington Irving Elementary for 10 years as a Lunch Recess Monitor and After-School Care Program Teacher’s Assistant. She loved working with children and continued working at the school until her health condition would no longer allow for it.
Natalie was a devoted wife of 31 years, but had been recently widowed in 2016. She spent her free time on various crafts and was an avid sewer and knitter. She loved to decorate her home with various antique shop finds. Natalie had a life-long love of animals and owned numerous different types of pets including her beloved cats and Boston terriers.
Natalie is preceded in death by her mother and step-father, Iva and Richard Williams and husband Adam Barber. She is survived by her daughter and son, Jessica and Andrew Barber, sister Ginger Coleman, aunt Vonda Hunt, cousins Vonna Doering and Ronna Turner, mother and father-in-law Penny and Ivan Barber, brother and sister-in-law Kevin and Denise Barber, and nephews Trapper Wilson and Ben Barber.
A celebration of Natalie’s life will be held Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, OK.
She was a wonderful friend. I will miss her dearly.
So sad to hear this. I knew about Adam’s passing and this only adds to the tragedy. A friend of Adam’s father, I’m really sorry and pray for comfort and peace for the family.
So very sorry to hear about Natalie’s passing. We had not seen each other or stayed in touch since we where kids (cousins). She has been in my thoughts a lot recently. My thoughts & prayers are with her family.
So sad to hear this news. Both of my children (Lauren and Taylor Baldwin) attended Washington Irving Elementary School and they were heart broken to hear of Natalie’s passing. I also worked with Adam at OKDHS. Our condolences and prayers are with you Jessica and Andrew in this time of loss.
We were lucky to have Natalie and Adam as our friends. Our children went to school together. Jessica and Sydney were in Girl Scouts together. Andrew and Patrick were in the same Cub Scout Pack. We so enjoyed their company. Natalie was always saw the glass as half full. Even during in her darkest struggle with Cancer she always looked on the bright side and refused to bring herself down. Natalie was so loved by all that were around her and she touched so many people. We are deeply saddened at her passing and will miss her so terribly.
God bless you Natalie.
The Brennan Family