Naomi B. Barcus Kent

August 27, 1928 - June 2, 2018

SOUTH BEND - Naomi Barcus Kent, 89, a life-long resident of South Bend, died on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at Wellbrooke of South Bend.

Born on August 27, 1928 in Niles, Michigan to Ormond and Violet (Haquist) Barcus, Naomi Barcus met Kenneth L. Kent in Springfield, OH, where they attended Wittenberg University. They were married on August 22, 1948 in South Bend. They were married for 48 years before Kenneth preceded her in death in 1996.

Naomi Kent is survived by two sisters, Alice Snyder (Russell) of South Bend and Orma June Rettic (Richard) of Cassopolis, Michigan; and two sisters-in-law, Odette Barcus Fobe (George) and Ruth Atkeson (Dennis). Her brother, Ormond L. Barcus, Jr. preceded her in death.

Naomi is survived by two children, Kenneth L. Kent, Jr. (Gail Wimberly) of Granger and Judith Kent (Maurizio Furlan) of Chicago, IL.

Naomi graduated from Bethel College with a bachelor's degree in English in 1964. She completed her master's degree in education at Indiana University at South Bend in 1967. Many years of her distinguished career as an English teacher were spent at Jefferson School. She retired from Riley High School in 1995, where she had served as chair of the English Department. She had a strong reputation for having high expectations for her students; at the same time, she was well known for her support and guidance. Since retirement, she continued to receive letters from students expressing their gratitude for the depth of her influence on them.

In her earlier years, she was a member of the Social Order of the Beauceant (S.O.O.B.). She continued to be an active alumna of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, which supports the Ronald McDonald House. As a member of the Panhellenic Association of South Bend, she was a committee member for the annual review of applications for college scholarships. She was an avid reader and Scrabble player. She had a passion for bridge, humbly accepting acknowledgment of her skills. She enjoyed lasting friendships both in South Bend and in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida, where she spent many winters.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation for Naomi from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 7 at Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North Chapel, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend. Visitation will also be held at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 8, with the Funeral following at 11:30. Rev. Jeff Zell of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church will officiate. The committal service will follow at St. Joseph Valley Cemetery. Charitable donations may be made in Naomi's memory to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 225 E. Haney St., South Bend, IN 46613 or the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674. Family and friends may leave email condolences at www.welsheimer.com.