Obituary

Barbara Bales Stevens
(1938 - January 16, 2016)

Barbara Bales Stevens, 77, of Barboursville, WV died on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House. She was a retired registered nurse. She was preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow and Thelma Bales of Beckley, her brother and sister-in-law, Barry and Brenda Bales, her nephew Doug Stevens, and her step-granddaughter Kristen Kuhn. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, James, her daughter Mary Beth Kuhn and husband Kelly of Barboursville and her son Greg Stevens and wife Chrissy of Louisville, KY, her grandchildren Ashlie, Ryan, Emma and Michael Stevens of Louisville, Hannah Scarbro of Barboursville and step-granddaughter Emily Kuhn of Houston, TX. She is also survived by her siblings, Bill Bales and wife Marga of Williamsburg, VA, Betty Bales Sparks and husband Roger of Orange Park, FL, Buddy Bales and wife Betty of Miami, FL, and Beverly Bales Rinehart of Beckley, WV. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Kent and Lenore Stevens of Milton, WV and seventeen nieces and nephews. Barbara was born in Beckley, WV. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and St. Mary's School of Nursing in Huntington. She also graduated from Marshall University with a BA, BSN and MS degrees and WVU with a MSN and Doctorate in Higher Education Administration. Barbara was employed by St. Mary's Hospital for forty-one years. Thirty nine of those years were spent on the faculty of the school of nursing. She was the director of the school of nursing from 1988 until her retirement in 2001. After her retirement she maintained contact with St. Mary's by serving on the St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation Board, the Pallottine Health Services Board of Directors and St. Mary's School of Nursing Alumni Board of Directors. During her nursing career she was active in state and national nursing organizations and served two terms on the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. After retirement until the time of her illness she was a volunteer nurse at Ebenezer Medical Outreach. Barbara was a member of Barboursville Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for over 40 years and served on a number of boards and committees. Visitation with the family will be held on Friday, January 22, 2016 from 6-9 p.m. at Wallace Funeral Home and Chapel in Barboursville and after 12 p.m. Saturday at the church. A memorial service conducted by Pastor Evan Arkell and Pastor Ron Burnsworth will be held at Barboursville Baptist Church, 948 Main Street on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. Instead of flowers Barbara requested that donations be made to Hospice of Huntington, Box 464, Huntington, WV 25709. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Dr. Gerrit Kimmey and the HIMG oncology nurses, Dixie, Janet, Rhonda, Kim, and Mary for their compassionate care and to her wonderful Hospice Nurse, Jo Ghiz.