Barbara J. DeHart

Barbara Jean DeHart, 91, of Erlanger, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2026.

Barbara was born on October 19, 1934, to Mary and Elbert Knight. She was the middle of five children and was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Virginia Bowman and Michele Smith; and her brother, Elbert "Sonny" Knight.

A lifelong lover of books, Barbara often said she had "visited everywhere" through reading. Her curiosity and imagination stayed with her throughout her life. She attended Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, graduating in 1952.

Barbara met her husband, Jack, as a young child. They began dating while she was in high school and married shortly after her graduation, just before Jack left to serve in Korea. Their marriage of 74 years was marked by a constant partnership through every season of life.

Following Jack's military service, they returned to Indiana. It was there that Barbara experienced the defining turning point of her life. After her sister and best friend, Michele, attended a Billy Graham revival and shared the gospel with her, Barbara placed her faith in Jesus Christ. From that day forward, she devoted her life to following Him, becoming a faithful disciple, prayer warrior, and source of encouragement to everyone around her.

Barbara and Jack welcomed their first daughter, Rebecca Lynn, on October 9, 1961, followed four years later by Mary Ellen on August 22, 1965. Believing their family was complete, they built a life together in Columbus, Indiana. Then, in 1972, they were surprised by the arrival of their third daughter, Jennifer Lee, born on September 23, 1972.

Barbara's faith was evident not only in what she believed but also in how she lived. Prayer was the foundation of her life. She faithfully prayed over every season of her children's lives, as well as for friends, extended family, and countless others. Whenever difficulties arose, Barbara would call Michele, and together they would "get into agreement" in prayer. As her children grew, they knew they could come to her with a burden, and she would without fail say, "Let's get into agreement right now," and immediately lift the need to God with unwavering faith. Then she’d follow up, seeking reports on the outcome she could count as answered prayer.

Barbara's greatest earthly joy was her family. She was a devoted grandmother to nine grandchildren, each of whom held a special place in her heart. One of her greatest acts of love was being present for the first week of each grandchild's life. While she treasured every opportunity to hold and bond with her newest grandbaby, her highest priority was caring for and encouraging her daughters as they entered motherhood, surrounding them with practical help, wisdom, and the gift of her presence. In later years, she was blessed with six great-grandchildren.

Beyond her steadfast faith, Barbara was known for being unintentionally hilarious. Whether offering practical solutions to life’s everyday inconveniences or sharing one of her many colorful stories, regaling anyone who would listen, sometimes even strangers. She seemed to have an endless collection of stories and personal anecdotes for every occasion. If someone gently mentioned they had heard the story before, Barbara would simply reply, “Well, you can listen again.”

Barbara is survived by her beloved husband, Jack; her daughters, Becky Edwards (David II), Mary Glenn (Todd), and Jennifer Barton (Aaron); her grandchildren, David Edwards III (Ron), Alex Scott (Ben), Steven Edwards, Katie Arscott (Tyler), Jake Edwards (Noelle), Ben Edwards (Olga), Christine Alspaugh (Jake), Isaac Barton, and Elyse Barton; six cherished great-grandchildren; and her brother Mark Knight.

Barbara will be remembered for her unrelenting faith in Christ, her steadfast prayers, and her humor. Her legacy lives on in the generations she prayed for and pointed toward the Lord.

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