Catherine Ann Barnes Packer, Class of 1965

Catherine ‘Ann’ Barnes Packer ’65 died Oct. 7, 2018. Ann was born in Wooster Ohio, May 24, 1943, to the late Robert ’34 and Margaret (Koerner) Barnes. Ann graduated from Otterbein College in 1965 with a degree in Health Education. While at Otterbein she was involved in band, field hockey, basketball, softball and volleyball.

Along with her father, Ann comes from a long list of Otterbein alumni including her great-grandmother, Mary Ann Funk Gaut 1881 and grandmother, Adah Catherine Gaut Barnes 1908. Then Barnes siblings: Virginia ’63, Tom ’64, Ann ’65, Ruth ’66, Sarah ’69, Paul ’71 and Bob ’73. Also, son David Packer ’94, and many more.

Ann taught Physical Education at Wingate High School on the Navajo reservation. After starting a family, Ann began an in-home daycare/preschool in 1974, caring for and teaching children for the next 20 years. Upon retirement, Ann continued to share her giving spirit through volunteer work with Gay Street United Methodist Church and The Salvation Army in Mt. Vernon, and Hospice of Knox County.

Ann was preceded in death by her husband Walt; sister Virginia ’63 Barnes Lehman, brother-in-law Gary McGranahan, special aunts Mary Bigham, Mary Smith, and Dorothy Barnes. She is survived by her children Sharon (Chris) Vanella, David ’94 (Lisa) Packer, and Michelle (Steve) Burdine. Grandchildren Adah and Julia Vanella and Marianna and Gavin Packer, siblings Tom ’64 (Karla) Barnes, Ruth ‘66 (Nathan) Wilson, Sarah ’69 Barnes, Paul ’71 (Susan) Barnes, and Bob ‘73 (Jan ‘74) Barnes, brother in-law Wilson Lehman, sisters-in-law Judy McGranahan and Joy (Larry) McPherson, and many loving nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, cousins and very special life-long friends.