Barbara Tinsley Allard

Barbara Allard was a wonderful woman. Kind and gentle, she was always interested in what you had to say and listened with her whole heart.

Barbara was born on July 17, 1920 in Houston Texas, the third child of Raymer Wendell and Alice (Keown) Tinsley. She joined her older brothers Wendell and Calvin and later younger brother Roger. The 1920’s saw the beginnings of organized crime in our country and Barbara’s father worked for the FBI. His career led the family to live in several different towns and cities in Texas, and in 1930 they moved to Germany so that he could study the German language. Raymer was not the only family member to learn to speak German - the whole family became fluent.

In 1932, Barbara and her family moved back to the United States, settling in Oxford, Mississippi, where her father worked for the University of Mississippi as a professor of French and German. After graduating from college, Barbara later became a flight attendant for American Airlines. While on a flight to Chicago, she met a dashing serviceman – Major David Walter Allard. After a whirlwind courtship, Barbara and David were married in the Army chapel in Chicago, on April 12, 1947.

After a brief sojourn at Ft. Benning, Georgia, David and Barbara settled into their married life in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, with their newborn son, David, Jr. For as long as they were married, David always called Barbara his “bride”. Over the next several years, they were blessed with the births of three more wonderful children – Lynn, Tim and Terry.

The family owned a hardware business, Allard Hardware and Plywood, all the while raising their children, and David continuing his military service in the US Army Reserves. In 1978 they sold the business and moved to Port Richey, Florida. Barbara had visited Florida many times to see her mother, often with her mother-in-law as a companion. They became very active in the retirement community there and Barbara loved all the social activities that retirement offered. She enjoyed playing golf, traveling, swimming and biking. She even sang in a group called the Choralaires. But her favorite activity was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Tragedy struck in 1990 when David died very unexpectedly. However, with the support of her family and through her strength of character, Barbara persevered. Barbara had an interest in gardening and enjoyed landscape painting. She had always liked to travel and her great sense of adventure took her to places like Greece, France and many other places. Barbara was passionate about following Christ’s footsteps while in Jerusalem She always encouraged her family to follow their heart and find their own path.

In spite of her many activities, Barbara always found time for the most important thing in her life – her family. She had kept photos and letters from her childhood and her childrens', compiling many photo albums. She combined these with the genealogical records she had developed, providing a history and legacy for her family to cherish.

In 2002, Barbara returned to Grand Rapids and moved into Covenant Village of the Great Lakes to be closer to her family. In 2004, she broke her hip and moved to the Christian Rest Home. As her health diminished, Hospice provided her with loving care.

Barbara Allard was an intelligent and caring woman, and a true inspiration to her family and friends. She will be dearly missed.

Mrs. Barbara Tinsley Allard aged 88 of Grand Rapids, passed away at the Christian Rest Home in Grand Rapids, MI on Friday afternoon, August 29, 2008. She was preceded in death by her husband David Walter Allard in 1990 and her brothers, Wendell, Calvin and Roger Tinsley. She is survived by her children, David Jr. and Janice Allard, Lynn Allard and husband Steve Fekete, Timothy and Jeaune Allard, Terry Allard and wife Sophie Colleau; 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; her sisters-in-law, June Purkey and Eleanor Tinsley; nieces, nephews and many friends. Barbara reposes at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW where relatives and friends may meet her family on Tuesday from 2:00 – 4:00 PM and again at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 AM until the Mass begins at 10:30 The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday morning at 10:30 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1449 Wilcox Park Dr. (2 blocks blocks S. of Fulton St., E. of Carlton Ave.) A luncheon for family and friends will be held at church immediately following the Mass. Burial in Oakwood Cemetery Hartford, KY. In Lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in her memory to the Paralyzed Veterans of America. To read leave your own memory of Barbara and to sign her guest book, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com.