Barbara Louise Fouts passed away quietly on December 28, 2022, at Grand Living retirement facility in Hernando, Florida. She led a life of kindness, strength, grace, keen intelligence, and creativity which was admired by so many throughout her life. She lived with bravery amid challenges and loss.
Barbara was born in Ottumwa, IA on October 6, 1930, to the late James Harold and Helen Leona (Stevens) Sullivan. She was called Bobbie all her life until she moved to Florida and reclaimed her given name. Barbara’s mother passed away when she was just four years old. She then lived with her grandparents, Lucy and John Sullivan and their six children in Ottumwa for several years until her father remarried. James married Marian Kuhlman and Barbara lived with them in Chicago and then Plymouth, IN. Siblings came along as James and Marian had three children in South Bend, IN: Ann, Jim, and Tim.
Barbara was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools elementary through high school. After graduating from high school, she lived with her grandparents again in Ottumwa where she attended college. While there, she met Herbert Greiner who was from Keota, IA, eldest of 13 children, whose family had a farm. After one date, she told her grandmother she was going to marry him and so she did, November 19, 1949. Herb and Barbara were a very happy and beautiful couple. They had dreams and pursued them, together.
Before having children, Barbara worked at the Ottumwa airport where she and Herb went to flight school and received their private pilots’ licenses. She loved the airport environment, and she loved flying even more. They shared a plane with friends and even took some hunting trips with the plane. Once Barbara started having children, motherhood took the place of flying but her robust love of aviation and strong interest in planes lasted throughout her life.
Barbara and Herb had four children: Brooke, Jeff, Debra and Mike. They were loving, fun parents as well as avid adventurers in the realm of work, moving out of state several times for Herb’s career in sales. After Iowa, they lived in Anoka, Minnesota, Aurora, Illinois and Columbus, Ohio. Starting over was something they did over and over and in doing so, they taught their children the benefits of thoughtful risk-taking in life.
Barbara pursued various working ventures during her life. She ventured into real estate in Columbus and obtained her license. She also delved into finance and joined an investment club. Additionally, she worked in retail at merchandise shows and enjoyed it.
Barbara and Herb’s travels took them back to Iowa to visit family. Later on, they took trips to the tropics, traveling to Florida, Jamaica, Hawaii, and The Cayman Islands.
Herb died suddenly of a heart attack on August 18, 1973, leaving behind a shocked and deeply bereft wife and family to find their way amid long-lasting grief.
Barbara found love again in 1975 when she met Jack Fouts through a mutual friend. They had a whirlwind romance and were married July 1, 1976. She welcomed Jack’s children and he welcomed hers. Barbara moved to Delaware, OH, to join Jack in his community and role as Head Coach at Ohio Wesleyan University. They spent idyllic summers in Ontario at the island retreat Jack had owned for years. While basking in the natural wonder of water, rock, wildlife, and in between fishing, enjoying friends, and welcoming visiting family, Barbara and Jack worked hard to maintain the property. Barbara had an oil painting community there, too, a strong interest she pursued for most of her life: creating beautiful paintings of wildlife, tropical scenes, and portraits.
Eventually, Barbara and Jack moved to Ithaca, NY, where Jack coached football at Cornell University and Barbara acquired a New York State real estate license. As retirement began to approach, they decided to move to Florida; but first, they spent seven months in Austria while Jack had an opportunity to coach American football there. Ever the adventurer, Barbara had them traveling all over Europe, renting cars to see the big sights, as well as the off the map and out of the way destinations.
Barbara and Jack lived in Punta Gorda, Florida, for many years. They enjoyed golfing with friends, their beautiful home and pool, and Florida life. They lived through the aftermath of Hurricane Charley which plowed through Punta Gorda and their property in 2004. As Jack developed memory problems, Barbara took exquisite care of him at home for years and continued to care for him each day he was in memory care. She was with Jack when he passed away March 1, 2012.
Barbara continued to live in Punta Gorda for a couple of years after Jack’s passing. She attended oil painting classes with friends and really honed her skills. She stayed fit, rode her bike, and loved going to yoga classes. Eventually, she moved north to Citrus County, FL to be closer to her son Jeff and his family, moving into a lovely home and garden in Crystal River. She continued yoga, joined Bible studies, and participated in her neighborhood community. Following some health problems, Barbara moved to
Inverness to be closer to Jeff and his wife Barbara, where she lived in a lovely waterfront duplex they created for her. She moved into memory care in 2021. We are very grateful to all the staff at Grand Living at Citrus Hills for their compassionate and professional care they provided Barbara.
Barbara’s Catholic faith carried her through her entire life. She never missed Mass, even when traveling. While living in Crystal River and Inverness, she was a member of St. Scholastica Parish. She liked sitting in the back of the church with others who she enjoyed seeing each week, most especially two young children who added levity and smiles for all.
She leaves so many behind to remember and miss her. Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren: Brooke Greiner (Steve Clements) of Seattle, WA and son Dylan Clements, his daughter Belen Ortiz-Clements and Steve’s son Morgan Clements, his children Reiner and Kate; Jeff Greiner (Barbara) of Inverness, FL and daughter Lydia (Scott Westbrook) and son Elijah; Debra Greiner of Suquamish, WA; Michael Greiner (Carol) of Birmingham, AL and son Garrett Greiner. She leaves behind Jack Fouts’ adult children and their families: Dave (Binney), Jill (Rob) and John (Nydia). She leaves behind her siblings and their families: Ann (Aldo Rossini, deceased) of Sudbury, MA and her adult children, Tony, Katie and Michael and their children; Tim Sullivan (Mary Beth) of Granger, IN and adult children Maggie (AJ Popovic) and Jeremy (Abby, fiancé); James Sullivan (Deborah) of Granger, IN and adult children, Joshua and Zaire.
Private cremation is under the direction of the Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness, FL. A mass in her name will be held at St. Scholastica Catholic Church and a Celebration of Life will be scheduled for this spring.
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