Barbara Lenore Showers Gorrell Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Barbara Lenore Showers Gorrell, passed away August 27, 2018 at Ebeid Hospice Residence. She was born July 29, 1932 in Elkhart Indiana to Wayne Gilbert Showers and Mary Elsie Cocanower. Her father was killed in an auto accident in Ann Arbor, Michigan 3 months before she was born. Her mother then married Henry P. Kunkle of Kunkle, Ohio, a widower with 6 children. Barbara and her brother Ralph were accepted into the large family as one of their own. Barbara was married to Donald W. Gorrell of Pioneer, Ohio on February 16, 1952. Barbara graduated from Kunkle High School in 1950 and Davis Business College learning programming of keypunch, a forerunner of computers we have today. She would go on to join the Toledo Public School System using the computer systems we now use. She spent almost 28 years in the data processing department, some as the head of the computer system. She graduated from the University of Toledo in 1984, attending night classes, while working full time for the Toledo Public School System. It took her 8 years to earn her degree and she laughingly said she was a slow learner. As a young mother she helped set up the school library at Hiawatha Grade School when the school opened. She was always active in the activities related to her family, learning to keep score at little league games, the Whitmer Band Boosters Parents Club, where she served as Treasurer. Many band parties were held in the Gorrell basement after football games with chips, Coke and sloppy joes, courtesy of Barbara. Barbara was a licensed scuba diver, getting her license with her son David. She was an accomplished cake decorator, teaching each of her sons how to make red roses out of frosting. She was an accomplished cook and baker, always having cookies on hand, usually chocolate chip. She made each of her sons learn how to swim at the West Toledo YMCA. She herself learned to swim and then swam in a water ballet show put on at the YMCA and eventually became a lifeguard. In 2001, she was instrumental in designing the new building for the family business of Stoll Rug and Furniture on Lewis Avenue. She and Don recently moved to Kingston Assisted Living in Sylvania. Barbara leaves behind her husband of 66 years, Donald; sons, Michael (Gaylene) Gorrell of Toledo, Douglas (Denise) Gorrell of Toledo, David Gorrell of Val Rico, Florida; granddaughters, Courtney of Toledo, Kaitlyn of Toledo, Jessica of Powell, Ohio and grandson, Sean & Lindsay Goodrich, great grandchildren Keaton & Emerson Goodrich. Friends are invited to visit from 3:00pm to 8:00pm Friday at Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43613 where funeral services will be held 11:00am Saturday. Interment will follow in Ottawa Hills Memorial Park. Memorial contributions in Barbara's honor may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Barbara Lenore Showers Gorrell

July 29, 1932 - August 27, 2018