Barbara Conklin

Barbara Conklin, age 85, of Wayne (formerly of Oakland) passed Tuesday, August 31, 2021.

She was born in Paterson to William and Carrie Post.  She was raised in Paterson and graduated from Central High School with the Class of 1954, where she was involved with the Financial, Publicity, Decoration, Jewelry and Pageant Committees and the Bible Club.  

As a young woman, Barbara worked for the Sam Braen Quarry where she met Abram Ira Conklin.  They fell in love and married on January 12, 1956. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Joanne, David, and Nancy. For 21 ½ years she worked for the Oakland Board of Education and retired as a Cafeteria Manager on March 1, 1989. Barbara and Abe enjoyed five years of retirement in Palm Coast, Florida where she was involved with the Christian Women’s Club of Palm Coast. They had a loving and devoted marriage of 38 years before Abram’s passing in 1994.  After his passing, Barbara returned to Wayne where she lived for the past 27 years.

Barbara was dedicated to her Christian faith and was a member of the Ramapo Valley Baptist Church in Oakland and later the Preakness Baptist Church in Wayne.  She was active in both churches and sang in their choirs. At the Preakness Baptist Church she served as a Deacon, was active with mission trips, was a member of the Young at Heart Group, and could always be found working the kitchen for just about any church function. Upon returning to New Jersey, she chose to spend much of that time driving her senior friends shopping, to doctors, or anywhere else they needed to go – a truly selfless woman. She loved to entertain, decorate, and prepare food for family and friends.  Her loving touch on apple pie will be dearly missed. She was an active and devoted mom having been a Cub Scout leader, Brownie leader, and was always there to help with her children’s extracurricular activities.  She was skilled and creative; talents she demonstrated in the clothes she sewed for her kids as well as in her crafting. A favorite time of hers was taking girls trips to Street and Craft Fairs. Most of all Barbara will be remembered as a loving mom, grandma, and great-grandma that was faith-filled, spiritual, loving, and giving.

Barbara was predeceased by her husband Abram Ira Conklin (d. 1994), daughter Joanne Custer (d. 2011); and sister Carol Post (d. 2013). She is survived by her son David Conklin and his wife Darlene of Chelmsford, MA; daughter, Nancy Dukeshire and her husband Robert of Bloomingdale; son-in-law Benjamin Custer of Whitehouse Station; grandchildren, Chris Megnin and his wife Andrea, Kim Megnin, Steven Conklin, and Ashley Conklin; and great-grandchildren Ryan Megnin and Elena Megnin.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Baptist Camp Lebanon, 79 Blossom Hill Road, Lebanon, NJ 08833. The link for that donation can be found here.