Last Updated on July 24, 2018 by cassnetwork
Barbara J. Sumantri, 91, of Logansport, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2018, at home.
Born July 6, 1927, in Tiago County, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Oscar and Mildred (Jennings) Griswold .
On November 27, 1946, in Spring Harbor, Michigan, she was married to John Cowles. He preceded her in death in 1978.
On June 28, 1981, in Arizona, she was married to R. Boone Sumantri, who survives.
Surviving with her husband are four children: Ron (Janice) Cowles, of Logansport, Ed (Mary) Cowles, Zanesville, Ohio, Gary (Sonya) Cowles,of Staples, Minnesota and Jeanette (Dave) Huntoon, of Logansport; eight grandchildren, Kristen, Ben, Holly, Tracey, Ryan, Jeremy, Jared and Justin; several great-grandchildren; three step-children, Dini Malone, Memphis, TN, Tato Sumantri, Portland, Oregon, and Tati Guzman, Hawaii;; two stepgrandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Elouise Densmore.
In 1980 Barbara worked as a volunteer at the main office of Food for the Hungry International in Tempe, AZ, where she met Boone Sumantri. They married in June, 1981, and resided in Mesa, AZ. They attended the Mesa Church of the Nazarene. Barbara loved classical music, and she played the piano. She loved the outdoors. They hiked and backpacked on the Superstition Mountains dessert range, and visited the Grand Canyon Area often.
They moved to Lake Wales, Florida in 1982 where Boone served on the faculty of Warner Southern College. They attended the Lake Wales Church of the Nazarene. They led several couples of the church on a canoeing trip on the Peace River.
They moved to Portland, OR, in 1984 where she volunteered at Mercy Corps International. They are members of the Rose City Church of the Nazarene. They attended the 1982 Portland Billy Graham Crusade. They loved the friendliness of the neighborhood. She did a lot of gardening, and loved making grape juice and jams. They hiked and camped on the trails along the Columbia River and on the Pacific Ocean beaches.
They moved to Logansport, IN in 2006 where Barbara enjoyed drives around the countryside and visiting her favorite restaurants: the Westside Diner, the Sportsman Inn in Monticello and the Streamliner Inn in Rochester. They enjoyed their friendly staff which became a loving extended family. They attended the First Church of the Nazarene.
As she slowed down in her life, they were well taken care of by their daughter Jeanette and her husband David. She enjoyed the loving visits of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. The Lord has truly blessed Barbara with a full life in the joy of His love and peace.
A Funeral Service celebrating Barbara’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 25 in Fisher Funeral Chapel with Rev. Horace Smith officiating.
Interment will follow in the Spring Creek Cemetery, Logansport.
Friends will be received from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service Wednesday.
Condolences may be shared at www.fisherfuneralchapel.com.