Barbara Burbank

Barbara M. Burbank, 90, of Indianapolis, IN died June 11, 2015 at her home. Services were held Friday, June 19 at Fairview Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, IN, with Rev. John Koppitch officiating. Burial was in Washington Park Cemetery North in Indianapolis, IN.
Barbara Mary Martin was Born in Waukon November 26, 1924. She was the third child of Juan Willard and Clara Martha Martin. She was named after her two grandmothers, Barbara Martin and Mary Opfer. Barbara grew up in a loving family, active in the church and choir. Her brother, Roger, teased her a lot, but they shared a special bond and many fond memories of playing in the yard with the neighborhood children.
Barbara loved to ice skate (speed skate) and grew up sewing and cooking. She played tenor saxophone in high school and in the university dance band and marching band. She graduated from the University of Iowa in Iowa City with a nursing degree in 1947 and served as a cadet nurse during WWII.
Barbara's nursing career began as a surgical nurse in the Ear, Nose and Throat surgery department at the University of Iowa Hospital. She later worked as a unit nurse at Grant Hospital in Chicago, IL and as a college nurse at Carthage College. After raising her two daughters she returned to nursing at the Psychiatric Unit at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, IN.
John Burbank swept her off her feet when they met at the home of a mutual friend in Waukon New Year's Eve. After a short courtship they married  August 27, 1948 and moved to Springfield, IL. When John completed his seminary training they moved to Goodland, IN. Barbara provided the perfect complement to John's work as a Presbyterian minister, which took them to Noblesville, IN and later Indianapolis, IN.
The family was complete with the birth of Virginia (Gini) in 1949 and then Rebecca (Becky) in 1952. The family enjoyed close bonds, sharing a passion for card playing, reading, sewing and spiritual life. Barbara was delighted at the addition of her two grandchildren, Tanya and Kiki, who were born three years and 17 days apart, exactly as her girls were.
Barbara took up oil painting in the 1960s and continued turning out masterpieces much appreciated by her family and fans. She was an exhibiting member of the Hamilton County Artists’ Association and continued painting at age 90.
After John’s death in 1991, Barbara continued to be active at Fairview Presbyterian Church and served a number of roles. She especially enjoyed working the jewelry department for the annual rummage sale, cutting pies for the fish fry, her Sunday School class and Bible study group.
At her 90th birthday, Barbara was asked what advice she had for the younger generation. Her response was, “Attitude. Having a positive attitude is the most important thing you can do. In her final months of life when she was undergoing cancer treatment, she put the following quote on her fridge: “Life is not waiting for the storm to pass. It’s learning to dance in the rain.” This is how she lived her life.
Barbara is survived by her two daughters, Virginia (Bill) Lloyd of Chicago, IL and Rebecca (Stan) Zaist of Jackson, WY; and two grandchildren, Tanya Zaist and Kiki Zaist; and a sister-in-law, Arlene Martin of Waukon. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; a sister and brother-in-law, Virginia (Matthew) Ferguson; and a brother, Roger Martin.
Memorial contributions may be made to Fairview Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, IN.