Barbara Ann (Focht) Held died Sunday, October 22 at her residence in the Topton Home. She passed peacefully in her sleep. Born September 26, 1936 in Reading Pennsylvania to the late Charles and Kathryn (Young) Focht. Barbara was a 1954 graduate of Kutztown Area High School and a graduate of the Reading Hospital School of Nursing in 1957 receiving her diploma as a Registered Nurse. She was employed as an RN in the operating room at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center from 1958 to 1960. She was the Infirmary Nurse at the Kutztown University from 1960 to 1962. From 1962 to 1964 she was a Medical/Surgical Floor Nurse at The Reading Hospital and Medical Center. From 1964 to 1968 she did private duty nursing at the same hospital. From 1979 to 1983 she was a Certified EMT with the Kutztown Lions Club Ambulance Corp and was the First Aid Nurse for the Kutztown Folk Festival for 21 years beginning in the 1960’s. She was also the Assistant Manager at the Kutztown/Northeastern Berks Senior Center from 1998 to 2003.
She was the owner of the former Children’s shop, And One to Grow in Kutztown from 1979 to 1989. She was the Owner of Quilts and Country from 1989 to 2003. She was affiliated with the following organizations:
Girl Scouts of America: She was a leader for 15 years; trainer for new leaders and troop camping; Program Director and RN at Edmar Day Camp, Kutztown; Board member of the Great Valley Girl Scout Council; Adult Girl Scout weekend committee member. Along with her husband Marcus, served as honorary chairman of the 1996 Women of Distinction Dinner.
She was a 40 year member of the Woman’s Club of Kutztown where she served as a past president and was a board member for 20+ years.
She was a board member of Friend, Inc. for 10 years and organized the first and following five benefit auctions. She is a past president of the Kutztown Lioness Club serving from 1993 to 1994. She was the Photography Chairman for the Quilt Harvest Festival of the Berks County Historical Society. She was past president, organized and chairman of the first six quilt shows for the Kutztown Area Historical Society. She was the Quilt Barn chairperson from 1996 to 2002 for the Kutztown Folk Festival. She is a member of the Kutztown Lions Club and was a former chairperson of the White Cane Project as well as Chairman of the Diabetes Awareness Committee. She was the past president of the Kutztown Jaycee Wives in 1968 and co-founder of the Heart and Home Quilters Guild.
Political Offices: She was a Director of the Kutztown Area School District from 1977 to 1983 and served as treasurer. She served on the building committee for the new Junior High School. She was the Judge of Elections, Maxatawny Township from 1990 to 2002.
She received the Outstanding Jaycee Wife award in 1969, Nominated for Outstanding Young Woman of America in 1970 and received the Kutztown Jaycee Distinguished Service Award in 1984.
She is a member of St. Paul’s UCC, Kutztown where she served on the Consistory and as a Vice President; Sunday school teacher for 13 years, Youth Fellowship Advisor, and during the 1960’s served as the President of the Woman’s Guild; and she was also a member of the Choir and Bell Choir. She was the founder of the Holiday Bazaar at the church in 1962. She was also a member of St. John’s UCC from 2008 to 2017 where she served as a member of the Consistory and as Chairman of the Memorial Committee.
She is survived by her loving husband, Marcus G. Held Jr, of Topton. Barbara is also survived by her 3 children: daughter, Pat, wife of Jerry Yanavok, Saylorsburg; son, Bruce, husband of Annie, Sinking Spring and daughter, Jen, wife of Robert Shick Jr.Fleetwood; 6 grandchildren: Jason Harrigle of Whitehall; Greg Harrigle, husband of Andrea, of Whitehall; Ryan Held, husband of Stephanie Dymek, of Camp Hill; Eric Held, of Malven; Brett Shick, of Auburn; and Brittany Shick, of Fleetwood; 5 great-grandchildren: Flora, Mya, Greyson, Brynlee and Landon. She is also survived by her Brother in law Ken Held, wife of Vicki, of Kutztown.
Memorial service will be, Friday, October 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m., in St. Paul’s UCC, Whiteoak Street, Kutztown, Pa. Visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. Contributions may be made to the Kutztown Area Historical Society. The Edward J. Hildenbrand Funeral Home, Inc., Kutztown is assisting the family. www.hildenbrandfuneralhome.com