Barbara R. Ernstes

Barbara Rose (Walsman) Ernstes, 91, passed to eternal life on November 13, 2019 at her home in Greensburg, Indiana surrounded by her family. She was born on January 10, 1928 in Batesville, Indiana to Quirin and Lydia (Meyer) Walsman. Paul saw Barb at a Batesville Saturday night dance and said, “that is the woman I am going to marry.” After marrying the love of her life in 1949 she moved to Greensburg, IN to raise their family and joined together to farm the land they lovingly named Ern-Wal Acres.  Barbara worked for many years at Decatur County bank and spent her retirement years volunteering at Decatur County Memorial Hospital. She was also an active member of Saint Mary’s Catholic church and the Daughters of Isabella. She was a member of the Psi Iota Xi sorority. She especially loved playing bridge and was active in many clubs. Her favorite thing was spending time with family and enjoyed many mother-daughter trips.  Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved husband Paul in 2018, her parents, her sister Mary Helen Picker, and brothers Howard Walsman and Fr. Paul Walsman, OSF. She is survived by her four daughters Paula (Jon) Fox, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; Marilyn (David) Ebbinghouse, Bloomington, IN; Nancy (Herm Waltemate) Ernstes, Cleveland, OH; Kathy (David) Henry, Springfield, OH; 6 grandchildren: Tricia (Joe) Eckert, Rachael (Matt) DeLeon, Adrienne (Hollis) Owens, Michael Henry (Ashlee Bowman), Adam Ebbinghouse, and Alex Ebbinghouse; 7 great-grandchildren: Jack and Aiden Eckert, Eva and Landon DeLeon, Charlie and Annabelle Owens, and Hazel Henry. She is also survived by her loving brother Robert Walsman (Dorothy) and many nieces and nephews.  Visitation will be held at Porter-Oliger-Pearson Funeral Home on Sunday, November 17 from 1 to 4. A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church with Rev. John Meyer officiating at 10 am on Monday November 18. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made in Barbara’s name to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Oldenburg Academy, Decatur County Hospital or Decatur County Memorial Fund.