Barbara Ann Locke

Barbara Ann Locke, 87, of Union, OH, passed away Thursday, November 7, 2024. She was born October 24, 1937, in Union, Ohio, to the late Forrest & Lillian Locke.

Barbara will be missed and remembered by her son David Locke Perlow (47) and his wife Shannon (47) of Bellbrook, Ohio; grandchildren Ezra John Locke Perlow (18) and Araya Grace Perlow (17); brother Wayne Locke of Union, Ohio; sister Mary Jane Griesheimer of Union, Ohio; numerous nieces and nephews who will miss and remember her fondly.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Joyce McGinnis.

Barbara was a long-time member of Community Grace Brethren Church. She also spent many years involved in BSF with other women in the Dayton area studying God’s word. She was a huge people person and thrived being around others. She truly loved her family and loved others well; she never met a stranger. She studied fashion at University of Miami in Florida and was an amazing seamstress, often sewing up costumes for school plays and church pageants. Above all, Barbara will be known as being a wonderful mother and grandmother. We rejoice with her as she is able to walk and talk again in heaven and look forward to the day when we reunite with her there.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday, November 17, at Hale-Sarver Family Funeral Home, 284 N. Miami St., West Milton, with a close friend of the Perlow family, Pastor Brian Tate officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2:00-3:00 PM Sunday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider live plants or contributions made in Barbara’s name to one of the following ministries:

Hope Rising: https://shorturl.at/1GGhL - Formerly Miami Valley Women’s Center

Hope Bridge: https://hopebridgeohio.org/programs/single-moms/ - A Ministry for single mom’s here in Ohio.

Online memories may be left for the family at www.hale-sarver.com

A personal note from David:

Thursday, November 7, 2024, my mom left this life and entered into the presence of Jesus.

I knew she was not doing as well that last couple of days, but I was so grateful that the nurse

called me and let me know my mom had taken another turn and that it would not be long. This

still somehow came as a shock as it all happened very quickly. My mom has been in the

nursing home since the week of January 6, 2014, roughly 10 years and 10 months since she

had a debilitating stroke that left her unable to talk or ever walk again, even with months of

physical therapy.

As someone who has always felt like I understood God’s sovereignty more than my own free

will, the reality that at the very least, God allowed my mom to experience this tragedy was very

hard on me. My own hurt plunged me into one of the greatest struggles of my adult life and with

the question so many ask, especially when we are hurting: “Why would a good God allow such

pain and suffering?”

I wish, as I’m sure many do, I had a direct answer to this, but I do not. I do not specifically know

what good came from this happening to my mom. I do know, as I think we all do, deep down,

that this world is broken and that we have far less control over our circumstances than we ever

want to believe.

What I have learned in the last almost 11 years has been this… I am not in control, but God is,

and God loves us more than anyone - even when things are so hard, painful and difficult to

understand. He is the one who can provide comfort in our sorrows. He promises to stay with us

and help heal us through whatever comes our way. He brought people in my life to help me heal

and grow and put me in the right place and situations that would help me better understand and

grow closer to Him even in my own personal struggles. Without Him I am nothing and I am so

thankful my mom is with Him now and her own personal suffering is over…

I am looking forward to celebrating her healing with Jesus one day!

In lieu of flowers, please consider live plants or contributions made in Barbara’s name to one of the following ministries:

Hope Rising: https://shorturl.at/1GGhL - Formerly Miami Valley Women’s Center

Hope Bridge: https://hopebridgeohio.org/programs/single-moms/ - A Ministry for single mom’s here in Ohio.

Online memories may be left for the family at www.hale-sarver.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara Ann Locke, please visit our floral store.