Barbara Ann Birkes

Barbara Ann Birkes passed into the presence of her Savior and Lord on Sunday, March 13, 2022. She was 74.

Barbara was born November 27, 1947, to Willie Walter and Mamie Irene Marwitz, in Hamilton, Texas. She grew up among many family members and friends in the beautiful hill country in and around Priddy. She was valedictorian of Priddy’s senior class of ‘66. After graduation, she moved to Temple for business school where she met and married Donald Birkes. The couple had two children, Don Jr. and Anne-Marie, that they raised in their beautiful home in Moffat. In 2003, God graciously reunited Barbara with her birth-daughter, Jan. All three of Barbara’s children brought her tremendous joy!

Barbara worked for years as an office manager for Bell County, retiring in 2007, when she devoted herself full-time to keeping up with her growing brood of grandchildren, which eventually numbered thirteen.

Always a woman of strong faith, Barbara was a constant encourager and prayer warrior on behalf of many, and especially her family. It was a ministry that only increased when various health challenges kept her close to home the last few years of life. All who knew Barbara can testify to her beautiful, gentle spirit, her love for Christ and His Word, and her joyful, steady faith through various life challenges.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, and her brother, Donald Marwitz, and her brother-n-law Randy Pope. She is survived by her son, Don Jr. of Moody, Texas, along with his wife, Margie, and their children, Kaitlynn, Carter, Banner, Trenton, and Reece; her daughter, Anne-Marie Copeland of Bixby, Oklahoma, along with her husband, Nathan, and their children, Faith, Judson, Mary, Ezra, Levi, and Owen; her birth-daughter, Janice Wildman of Dallas, Texas, along with her husband, Steve, and their children, Rebecca and Laura; her sweet sister and caregiver, Pamela Marwitz Pope of Priddy, Texas; her sister-in-law, Linda Marwitz of Manchaca, Texas; and many beloved extended family members not limited to nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins, as well as countless friends and neighbors.

A memorial service for Barbara will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 19, at First Baptist Church, Moffat, Texas. Pastor Nathan Copeland will be officiating. Crotty Funeral Home and Cremation Services are entrusted to services. Post tributes at crottyfh.com.

As our beloved Granny B (a.k.a., Babsie Ann, Barb, Mom) was an example of persistent faith in God’s unchanging goodness and precious promises, so we await with hope the completion of her story, “until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).