Barbara C. King

Barbara C. King, 74, of Prole died Saturday, July 6, 2013at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 10th at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset with burial to follow in the St. Patrick’s Irish Settlement Cemetery near Cumming. A visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 9th at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset; where family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. On-line condolences may be directed to the family at www.ochiltree.com. Barbara was born November 22, 1938 in Shenandoah, Iowa and her parents were Dr. William and Ethel (Colburn) Houlette. She was raised in Des Moines and was a 1957 graduate of Roosevelt High School. Her marriage to Patrick Louis King took place February 14, 1958 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winterset. Barbara worked at the Hickman Road K-Mart for 31 years where she worked as an office clerk. She was also a homemaker raising her three children and instilling in them an appreciation of art and creativity. Barbara was an accomplished artist whose sketches were prominently featured in her father’s book, “Iowa, The Pioneer Heritage” which was published in 1970. She could also play the piano and accordion and she was also a talented seamstress. She enjoyed flower gardening and watching home improvement shows which were the inspiration for her own decorating projects in her home. Her children recall what a great cook she was and they especially commented on her amazing pie crusts and the fact that she always took pride in making homemade noodles when every she made chicken and noodles, a tradition her daughter continues to this day. Simply stated, Barbara was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who loved nothing more than times spent with her family. Barbara is survived by her husband of 55 years, Pat King of Prole; her children, Mike (Laura) King of West Des Moines; Cheryl King and Steve King both of Prole; two grandsons, Sean and Patrick King and a great granddaughter, Lily King. She was preceded in death by her parents.