Margaret Elinor Moore Barth, 99, of Vero Beach, passed away on Feb. 7, 2016, following a brief illness.
She is survived by three children, Dr. Barbara Barth Frink of Bethesda, Md., Barry (Lynn) of Takoma Park, Md., and Bruce (Linda) of Glen Rock, N.J.; six grandchildren, Nathaniel O. (Tricia) Frink, David D. Frink, David Warren, Steven J. Barth, Samuel H. Barth and Molly A. Barth; four great-grandchildren, Lucas Frink and Isabella, Abigail and Madelyn Frink.
Barth was born on Feb. 23, 1916, in Jeddo, Mich. Shortly afterward, her parents Nathaniel and Jessie Avery Moore moved to Port Huron, Mich., where she lived until several years after graduating from local schools. Subsequently, she began studies at the Bible Institute of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, residing with her sister and brother-in-law in Camden, N.J.
While attending her bother-in-law’s church, Rosedale Baptist, she met her future husband, Omar N. Barth, a member of the congregation. They were married on Sept. 5, 1939, a union that continued for almost 75 years, until Omar’s death in 2014.
After her marriage, she joined her husband in Clinton, N.J., where he was serving as a student pastor of the Clinton Baptist Church. Following graduation from seminary and ordination, the couple served the Newtown Square Baptist Church in Newtown Square, Penn.
In 1950 the couple moved to Salem, Ore., to minister to the congregation of the Calvary Baptist Church. In 1956 they returned to the East Coast and began serving the congregation at the Broadway Baptist Church in Paterson, N.J. Here they ministered for 24 years until retirement in 1980.
During their time at Broadway Baptist, Barth graduated from the Bergen Pines School of Nursing where she was elected president of her class. She worked part-time as an LPN in various health care facilities in New Jersey.
Throughout their more than 42 years of serving Christ, Barth supported her husband’s ministry, participating fully in the life of each congregation. Her loving spirit and spiritual concern for everyone from small children to the oldest adults whom she led and taught won her the deep affection of each congregation.
In retirement, the Barths served several interim pastorates and, among other things, delivered Meals on Wheels for more than 20 years in New Jersey and Florida.
Conducting a business in Antiques, Books and Collectibles, and traveling within the U.S. and abroad were sources of much enjoyment. The Barth’s moved from Culver Lake, N.J. to Florida in 1986, eventually settling at the Florida Baptist Retirement Center in 1999.
At the time of her death, she was a resident of the Florida Baptist Retirement Center where a memorial service was held on Feb. 10.
Gifts in memory of Margaret may be sent to Radio Station WPEL, in Montrose, Penn., in memory of Margaret’s sister and brother-in-law who founded this Christian station more than 60 years ago. Memorial services will be held at Adams Funeral Home in Elmer, N.J. followed by interment at the family plot, Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Elmer.
