Barbara Mae (Ward) Murphy, 83, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin, friend, and faithful servant, went to be with the Lord on August 17, 2019, following a brief illness.  Born in Wheeling, Illinois, on October 2, 1935 to Herbert and Mae (Ehlers) Ward, she graduated from Ela Vernon High School in Lake Zurich, Illinois in 1953.  In 1957, she married the boy next door, Dale Warren Murphy, with whom she moved to Upland, Indiana, while Dale completed college at Taylor University and they raised their three young sons. In 1971, they moved to Rockledge, Florida, where they have made their home ever since. Barbara earned an Associates Degree in Library Sciences from Brevard Community College (Eastern Florida State College), and worked as an assistant librarian at Anderson Elementary, Brevard Community College, and Cocoa High School, retiring in 1997.  Barbara was loved by her family, friends, and all who knew her for her loving, patient spirit and extraordinary thoughtfulness, her deep Christian faith and devoted service, and her unconditional love and loyalty. An excellent cook, baker, and chronicler of daily life through meticulous record keeping, letters, cards, emails, photos, Barbara devoted herself in word and deed to making life better in countless ways for those fortunate enough to be her family and friends or to have come across her in life. She enjoyed socializing with family while playing board games, cards, and dominoes, and doing crossword puzzles. Barbara also loved sports, including anything her children, grandchildren, and extended family members were participating in. She especially loved baseball, and most especially, the Chicago Cubs.  Barbara was a true, lifelong Cubs fan, and attended or watched as many Cubs games as she possibly could, keeping decades of accurate game statistics.  Barbara is survived by her husband of 62 years, Dale W. Murphy; three sons, Michael (Mary) of Chapin, South Carolina, Mark (Maureen) of Baldwinsville, New York, and Marlin (Susan) of Naperville, Illinois; eight grandchildren, Sara, Catherine, and Kyle Murphy of Rockledge; Ciara (Robert) Cunningham of Syracuse, New York, Christiane and Conor Murphy of Baldwinsville, New York; Jillian Murphy of Chicago, Illinois, and Camryn Murphy of Camp Pendleton, California; and two great-grandchildren, Payton and Taylor Mertz of Rockledge. Also left to cherish her memory are her siblings, Marion (Harold, deceased) Hoopingarner, of Indianapolis, Indiana, Herbert (Jean) Ward of Mount Prospect, Illinois, and Wilma (Donald) Hartz of Flushing, Michigan. She was predeceased by her brother Richard (Linda) Ward in 2018. A celebration of Barbara’s life will take place on Friday, August 30^, at 11:00 at Cross Bridge Church, 651 Barnes Boulevard, Rockledge. The family would like to extend its deepest gratitude to the staff at Parrish Medical Center in Titusville, and Halifax Hospital in Daytona Beach and the Cross Bridge Church community for their support, fellowship, and prayers during Barbara’s illness and since her passing. Memorial contributions may be made to: the Walter Oliver Scholarship Endowment, Taylor University, Attention: Nelson Rediger, 236 Reade Avenue, Upland, IN 46989, tel (765) 998-5310 and/or Five To Free Project, Cross Bridge Church, 651 Barnes Boulevard, Rockledge, FL 32955, tel (321) 636-4600.