Barbara Frances (Arnold) Shields, 82, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully on Sept. 27, 2015.
She is survived by Calvin, her devoted husband of 58 years, and three children, Cyd (Andrew) Teare, Leslie (Douglas) Menzies, and Kyle Shields. She was a wonderful grandmother to Danielle and Erica Teare, Michelle and Adam Menzies, and Griffin and Madeline Shields. She also leaves behind her best friend and sister, Patricia (Robert) Born, two brothers John (Vivian) Arnold and James (Gayle) Arnold, and countless friends.
Shields was born to Alma and Seth Arnold on Nov. 10, 1932. She spent her childhood in Denton, Mich.
An accomplished seamstress at a young age, she earned a 4-H scholarship to Michigan State College (now University) majoring in Interior Design. Shields worked as an interior designer for Hudson’s in Detroit, then later at Lord & Taylor in New York City where she lived with Cal during their first year of marriage.
She went on to hone her talents decorating the many family homes the family lived in during their years of moving around the country and abroad in Guatemala and Paris. Shields enjoyed those years raising her children, introducing them to the cultures through her love of art and cooking, while remaining unencumbered by the difficulties of trying to maintain a “normal American home” without speaking the language.
Upon returning to the U. S., Shields lived in Fort Wayne, Ind., spending much of her time volunteering at the art museum, teaching nutrition at a children’s health clinic and helping at her church. She and Cal settled into Vero Beach during their retirement years, enjoying golf, traveling, and summers in Harbor Springs, Mich.
Shields was kind, compassionate and always thinking of others first. She was a quiet lady, but could talk and laugh with her sister for hours. She touched many lives, and will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held for Barbara on Oct. 5, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Blvd. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation at www.alz.org.
Arrangements are by Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach. A guest book is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
