Barbara Jewel Thatcher Obituary (1931 - 2023)

Barbara Jewel Thatcher, 92 of El Paso, formerly of Shirley passed away at Arc of El Paso on Friday November 24, 2023. There will be a funeral for Barbara at 11 AM on Wednesday November 29, 2023, at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington. Reverend Neal Kentch will officiate. There will be a visitation from 10-11 at the Memorial Home. Burial will be in Funks Grove Cemetery in McLean. Barbara was born in Bloomington on May 2, 1931, to George and Nora Downs Workman. She married William Thatcher on July 2, 1949, in Bloomington. He preceded her in death on February 6, 2016. Three brothers, Gerald, Phillip, and Richard Workman preceded her in death. She is survived by two daughters, Connie Thatcher of House Springs, Missouri, and Chris (Rick) Metz of Fairbury, and two grandchildren, Nathan Leach and Micca Metz. Barbara retired in 1989 from McLean County Bank where she worked for fifteen years as an Internal Audit Officer. She also published several articles for various religious magazines and was a member of First Christian Church for more than fifty years. Barbara was on the reunion committee for Normal Community High School where she graduated from in 1949. She loved sewing and crocheted many baby blankets for Home Sweet Home Mission. Barbara loved camping and fishing and shot a Black Bear on her honeymoon in Canada. She and William took many fishing trips to Alaska. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church in Bloomington.