Barbara Grafton, 88, of Freedom Township, passed away Thursday, February 18, 2021. Born on the family farm in Freedom, Portage Co., OH, daughter of the late D. Daniel and Mildred (Peppeard) Strawman and grandaughter of David S. and Beulah (Lamale) Strawman; and Neal and Laurel (Rathbun) Peppeard.
After 12 years of schooling in the Freedom School District, she went on to work at the A&P grocery chain as head cashier where she also met her future husband Daniel “Dan” Grafton.
Barb was an excellent seamstress starting at an early age sewing her own dresses throughout her school years and making and designing her wedding gown as well as the dresses of her attendants. Years later when Dan became involved with the Freedom Hot Stove Baseball Team, Barb made all the players new uniforms. Barb also helped to raise the money for the team, and when the team retired in the late 90’s donated the remaining monies to Freedom Township to build the Pavillion that is located at Freedom Center.
Barb was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for her years of service at the Ravenna First Church of the Nazarene, where she had been a member for 60+ years; organizing memorial dinners for family members as well as large dinners for the workers of the Ravenna Balloon affair every year. One of Barbs favorite events she organized was the Easter Egg Hunt for the kids every year. Barb also followed in her fathers footsteps and continued to help with the Bandage Rolling Ministry rolling bandages every Tuesday with the group at the church.
The members and visitors to the Portage Co. Randolph Fair knew Barb well for the numerous entries she contributed to the fair. Her mentor and aunt, Marguerite Strawman had exhibits in the fair and was pleased to let her in on the fun. The Record Courier often acknowledged Barb by printing several articles and pictures of her along with her blue ribbons and dozens of jars of homemade jellies, jams, fruits, pickles, relishes, and more, all winning the awards.
Barbs hands were seldom idle. In the early 1970’s she started a hobby making chocolate candy suckers for school children, baking and decorating birthday cakes, which led to her business ‘Barb’s Cakes and Candies’. The store consisted of a variety of candy melts, molds, cake supplies and numerous instruction manuals, a small version of what many know as Michaels today. She continued to make cakes as well, mainly wedding cakes, some four tier and consisting of a water fountain on the bottom with bridesmaids coming down the four flights of stairs.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Daniel J. Grafton, Deborah Kidd, Danny, Donald (Rose), and Dale (Luetta) Grafton; grandchildren Christopher, Aleah, Kaylee, and William; great Aerreona; sister Patricia Mihailov; sister-in-law Karen Strawman.
Barb is proceeded in death by her parents; her infant daughter, Priscilla; brother David John Strawman; aunt Sarah Manges, uncle “Dick” Strawman; aunt Marie (Peppeard) Gordon.
There was a funeral service held on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at Mallory-DeHaven-Carlson Funeral Home & Cremation Services Garrettsville, OH; followed by a brief grave side service at Drakesburg Cemetery, Freedom, OH. Online condolences may be sent to www.carlsonfuneralhomes.com
