Barbara Lou (Allen) Ditmer

BARBARA LOU DITMER, age 86 of Sidney, passed away Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 3:08 PM at her home surrounded by family and friends. She was born on March 28, 1935 in Sidney, Ohio, the daughter of the late George and Florence (Pool) Allen. On November 8, 1953 she married Marvin L. Ditmer who preceded her in death February 20, 2016.

Barbara is survived by three children, Roger (Anne) Ditmer, Mark (Sheryl) Ditmer, and Eric (Teresa) Ditmer, eight grandchildren, Kathryn Ditmer, Stephanie (Brian) Dobak, Barbie Ditmer, Jacob (Samantha) Ditmer, Andrew and Michael Ditmer, Bailey (Kayla) Ditmer, and Austin (Rebekah) Ditmer, four great grandchildren, and two siblings, Robert (Marti) Allen and Allan Bruce Allen. She was preceded in death by one brother, Philip Allen.

Barbara graduated from Sidney High School in the class of 1953. She and Marvin were married November 8, 1953 and lived in Alaska where Marvin served in the army before it was a state. 

Barbara enjoyed living in the oldest brick house in Shelby Co (1816). They were dairy farmers where Barbara was a tractor driver, grain truck driver and cow milker. She raised a large garden, canning and freezing all the produce. She raised chickens and sold eggs. She always said, "You can take the girl out of the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the girl".  

Barbara was a member of the Shelby County Historical Society, 1899 Hardin Current Event Club, Shelby County Farm Bureau, and Hardin Compromise Grange. Her passion was 4-H and she served over 60 years as advisor of the Starting Farmers 4-H club. She served as president of the Ohio 4-H Committee and was inducted into the Ohio 4-H Hall of Fame in 1991 as well as the Shelby County Hall of Fame. She went on so many mission trips including taking garden seeds to Haiti and teaching gardening. She was a lifelong member of the Sidney First United Methodist church where she sang in the choir. She and Marvin spent their retirement years in their R.V. in Florida and traveling to all of the states with their dog Buckeye. They visited historical sites and most Presidential Libraries. She enjoyed watching the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Reds and the Bengals. She was a cookie baker, pie baker and enjoyed making homemade noodles. 
 
Funeral Services will be held Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 4 PM at Sidney First United Methodist Church, 230 E. Poplar St, with Rev. Eileen Hix officiating. The family will receive friends at the church on Sunday from 2 to 4 PM.
Graveside Services will be held the following Monday at 10 AM at Brookside Cemetery in Hardin. Arrangements are in the care of Cromes-Edwards Funeral Home.
 
Memorials may be made to Shelby County 4-H Foundation or Sidney First United Methodist Church Choir. Condolences may be expressed to the Ditmer family at www.cromesfh.com

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