Barbara J. Rindfuss, age 70, of Waterford, died early Monday morning, January 10, 2011 at the Cleveland Clinic after a short illness. Born in Union City on August 20, 1940, she was one of six children of the late David Melville and Evelyn Bernice Lopus Gross.
Barbara married her husband Robert P. Rindfuss on January 24, 1959, and together they founded Rindfuss Drilling in 1960. Barbara and Bob were devoted to each other as they raised their family and as they built a successful business in which she served as president and office manager. She was known to be a perfectionist and very skilled at running the business, and yet her true priority was her family.
Barbara was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She loved times when her entire family would gather, especially for picnics, and she also looked forward to her special birthday shopping trips with her grandchildren. In her free time, Barbara could be found reading, cooking, baking one of her famous carrot cakes, or working with her flowers. She also enjoyed photography, making crafts, shopping, and traveling.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Gross, and a grandson, Corey Rindfuss.
Surviving family members include her husband, Robert P. Rindfuss; three children, Robert P. Rindfuss Jr. and his wife Jayne, and Jeffrey Lee Rindfuss and his wife Lisa, all of Waterford, and Karen L. Clark and her husband Matthew of Erie; six grandchildren, Leslie Hanas and her husband Larry, Maleena and Brenna Rindfuss, and Rachel, Elena and Mitchell Clark; one great-grandson, Larry Hanas III; her siblings, Martha Brace and husband Leslie Earl, Elsie Brace and husband William, LeRoy Gross and wife Luetta, all of Waterford, and Carol Carne of Conneaut Lake; also, many nieces and nephews, and her best friend, Linda Blevins of Florida.
Visiting hours will be at the Van Matre Funeral Home, 105 Walnut Street, Waterford on Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held there on Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. with the burial following at Waterford Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Mill Village Volunteer Fire Department or Stancliff Hose Company.
Jeff and the entire Rindfuss family, on behalf of Cindy and I, I would like to offer my sincere sorrow on the passing of your mom. My mind is filled with wonderful childhood memories of the times I was blessed to share with you and your family. You and your family will remain in our thoughts and prayers. My God comfort you in this time of sorrow and all the days of your life. God BLess you with much love Jim and Cindy Carter
Love Lives On
Those we love remain with us
for love itself lives on,
and cherished memories never fade
because a loved one’s gone.
Those we love can never be
more than a thought apart,
for as long as there is memory,
they’ll live on in the heart.
On behalf of Skelly and Loy, my condolences go out to Jeff and the entire Rindfuss family. Jeff, after reading your Mom’s obituary, she was obviously a very motivated lady who built and operated a great business with your Dad, but still put her family first and foremost, which says a lot about her as a person. Her values will live on with you and your entire family.
God Bless