Barbara (Smith) Mappes

Barbara Smith Mappes, a longtime resident of Ballwin, Missouri, passed away peacefully Friday, August 5, 2022 at Anthology of Clayton View in Missouri.  She was born February 6, 1943 in Wilmington, Ohio to the late John and Jean Smith. 

She is survived by her two daughters, Mary Beth (Kevin) Handley of University City, Missouri and Laura (Christopher) Espelin of Belmont, Massachusetts; grandchildren, Henry, Meg, and Franny of University City, Missouri and Nate and Nicollette of Belmont, Massachusetts; brothers, Pat Smith and Mike Smith; dear sister-in-law, Barb Smith; as well as many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Barb was preceded in death by her brother, Steve Smith.

Barb was a graduate of Wilmington High School and Mount St. Joseph’s College in Cincinnati, where she earned a BSN degree in nursing.  After working briefly in Cincinnati, Barb moved to Ballwin, Missouri to raise her family.  She spent more than 20 years working as a school nurse at Wren Hollow and Oak Brook Elementary schools in Ballwin where she had the pleasure of watching and helping hundreds of children grow and learn.  Many children wouldn’t feel well in order to sit in the office with nurse Barb.

Barb loved reading, walking, doing puzzles and meeting with her many friends.  Most importantly, she loved spending time with her beloved grandchildren, attending their activities and sporting events both near and far. A favorite place for Barb and her family was always the St. Louis Zoo.

The world was a brighter place with Barb in it and she will be forever missed by her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Louis Zoo or Catholic Charities of St. Louis.

A funeral mass for Barb was held Friday, August 12, 2022 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, in Forsyth, Missouri.  Burial was August 18, 2022 at Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington, Ohio.

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