Barbara Richards Heffner, 88 – Best Dressed and Most Poised at Pottsville High

Barbara Richards Heffner, formerly of Pottsville, died January 7, 2021 at Seton Manor.

She was born September 5, 1932 in Pottsville the daughter of Evelyn Schoffstall Richards and John J. Richards.

She was a gymnast in her younger years known for doing cartwheels and hanging off trees on Jefferson Street. She was always proud that she received all A’s in third grade, not an easy feat in 1940.

At Pottsville High School where she was graduated in 1950, she was named best dressed and most poised female. After graduation, she turned down a modeling scholarship and worked as a customer representative for Bell Telephone.

She met the love of her life, George Heffner, in 1946 when she was 14 and he 21. He wrote in her sister Shirley’s yearbook “tell your kid sister that I will call her up for a date when she turns 18.” He kept his word and they married in 1953 enjoying 63 years together until he died in 2016. George was a 5 term legislator and then 2 term judge with Barbara standing beside him giving him her honesty and the confidence he would need to do his work.

Barbara was always known for being humble and kind to all she met even in her late years when she wasn’t really aware of her surroundings as the ravages of 30 years of Parkinson’s disease and a stroke took hold.

She was a wonderful, kind, loving mother and grandmother always putting others’ needs above hers. She had many friends because she was a friend a friend would like to have. She enjoyed being with people especially entertaining friends with cocktail parties, cooking marvelous meals, and parking on Centre Street to watch all the shoppers go by during downtown’s heyday.

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the Freida Hoh circle, the law wives, the Philanthrop Society, and the Good Samaritan auxiliary.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, her sister Shirley, her daughter Evelyn, and her husband Judge George Heffner. She is survived by her brother John Richards of Washington’s Crossing, her daughter, Kimberly Carberry wife of Glen Carberry of Norwich, Connecticut, her son George Heffner Jr and wife Susan of Orwigsburg, grand children Christopher and Caroline Carberry, Brittany, Danielle, and Emily Heffner, and great granddaughter Charlotte Tassone.

Services will be deferred for a celebration of life after Covid subsides. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers any donations to go to Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 W. Arch St., Pottsville, PA 17901.

Lord-Bixler funeral home is in charge of her arrangements.

Online condolences may be expressed at http://www.Lord-Bixler.com.