BARBARA JOANN STALLINGS
Barbara Joann Stallings, 96, of Green City died Friday, June 26, 2026, at Sullivan County Memorial Hospital LTC surrounded by her family.
Barbara was born February 20, 1930, the 6th child of 11 to Douglas and Helen Wiley of Earlville, IL. She was the first of her family born in a hospital in Ottawa, IL and later graduated from Earlville High School in 1948.
She met Albert S. Stallings of Baker, IL and they were married September 10, 1950, at the Harding United Methodist Church. They lived at Leland, Il where their home burned before moving to Sandwich, Il.
In February 1973, Albert and Barbara moved with their two youngest daughters to a farm south of Green City, MO. Albert promised Barbara less snow than in northern Illinois, but when the April 1973 snowstorm hit north Missouri, she told him he lied. Barbara was a farm wife and worked at the Green City sale barn café and in the dietary department at Milan Health Care and Twin Pines before becoming Head Cook at Green City Schools until she retired in 1994. She stirred and served so many meals that her index finger formed around those handles. In 1990, they sold the farm and moved into Green City where they had the perfect view of the intersection to watch traffic. Barbara was a member of the Prairie Chapel United Methodist Church south of Green City where she was baptized with Ellen on December 7, 2008. Barbara was an amazing seamstress making most of her kid’s clothes & later Albert’s bib overalls. She also knitted, gifting baby blankets, slippers & fuzzy scarves. She loved to mow her yard & bake angel food cakes both of which she did until her late 80’s. She was blessed to live alone at her home in Green City thanks to Meals on Wheels & help from her family & friends for all but the last 6 months. She so appreciated her neighbors for looking out for her. Barbara loved feeding birds and watching sports. She loved keeping up on her family’s activities and remained positive throughout her life, always complimenting and having something nice to say.
Known as “The Alfabets”, Albert and Barbara were parents of Charles, Donna, Ellen and Frann. She is survived by Charles of Green City, Donna of Broadlands, VA, Ellen and Steve Hodge of Milan, and Frann and Steve Kincanon of Green City. Also surviving are Grandchildren: Jason and Jackie Kincanon, Stefanie Kincanon, Carson and Misti Hodge, Wesley and Jenny Hodge and granddog Leroy. Great Grandchildren (who referred to her as GG) include Baylynn Kincanon, Bentley Kincanon, Breann and Miguel Martin, Brittney Hodge, Caden (Makayla) Hodge, Cameron Hodge, Myranda (Trent) Shipley, Marcus Shipley and Mason Shipley. Barbara had 7 Great-Great- Grandchildren: Obee, Wrenleigh, Xyla, Judd, Exodus, Tripp Wesley and Asher with #8 due in December. She was preceded by her parents, her husband Albert in 2008, her sisters Ruth (Dean) Hall, Kathryn (Lawrence) Guelde and Gertrude (Ray) Hoelzer; and brothers Ralph (Eileen), Roger (Millie), Wilbur, Sam, Donald (Rosemary), Curtis (Martha) and Lee Wiley. Barbara outlived her 10 siblings.
She is survived by countless nieces and nephews which she loved dearly and they returned that love to their Aunt Barbara.
A funeral service for Barbara was held Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at Ruschmeier-Smith Funeral Home in Green City with Rolf Christen and Ben Williams officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, east of Green City.
Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan County Nutrition Site or Sullivan County Memorial Hospital Foundation.
