Barbara Hershberger Obituary

Barbara Ann Hershberger

August 19, 1935 - August 4, 2024

Meridian, Idaho - Barbara Ann Hershberger (née Bradley) passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at the age of 88. Her beautiful smile, kind heart, generous spirit, quick wit, and ability to always think of others will be missed by all fortunate to have known her. Barbara was born in Salmon, Idaho, on August 19, 1935, the eldest of four children born to Glenn and Grace Bradley. The Bradley family lived in Hailey and spent their summers at the Shake Creek Ranger Station until they moved to Pocatello in 1950. Barbara was an outstanding student and excelled at Pocatello High School and Idaho State College (now ISU), where she graduated in 1957 with a degree in nursing. Barbara's formal employment as a nurse was cut short when she married Edward Hershberger on June 23, 1957. Barbara and Ed were eager to see the world, and Ed's career as a civil engineer provided the opportunity. Over their 67 years of marriage, Barbara established homes in 30 different locations. Barbara and Ed moved from Newfoundland to China, with multiple stops in Idaho, Maryland, Arizona, California, Washington, Colorado and Georgia. Along the way, the family grew to include three children: John, Brenda, and Sandie. Barbara's focus, with each move, was to get the family settled in their new home, and then look for ways to connect and be a positive force in the community. Barbara found she enjoyed tutoring adults and earned a degree in teaching English as a second language. Her ESL training, combined with her innate ability to connect with others and her genuine desire to help, benefitted her students and resulted in many meaningful friendships.

Barbara and Ed retired to McCall in 1998 and enjoyed life in Long Valley until 2020, when health concerns necessitated a move to Meridian, Idaho. Barbara was an avid reader and book group leader, as well as a committed member of the St. Luke's McCall Auxiliary, the McCall Community Church, and P.E.O.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Ed Hershberger of Meridian, Idaho; son John Hershberger (Janie) of Tigard, Oregon; daughter Brenda Hershberger (Tom Walsh) of Cranbury, NJ; daughter Sandie Berger (Larry) of Orono, Minnesota; brother Glenn Bradley (Carolyn) of Shoshone, Idaho; sister Jeanette Hamilton of Lake Oswego, Oregon; and sister Pat Phillipson of Boulder, Colorado. In addition, her spirit lives on in her six dearly loved grandchildren -- Matthew Hartman, Benjamin Hartman, Glenn Hershberger, Scott Hershberger, Julie Berger, and Alex Berger -- and many treasured nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 5th, at 2 p.m. at the McCall Community Church, 901 North 1st Street, McCall, Idaho 83638.

In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest a donation to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 8th Avenue 16th Floor, New York, New York 10001.