Barbara Jean Sindt

Barbara Jean Ensign Sindt died on May 10, 2026, at the Primrose Retirement Community in Jefferson City, Missouri.

She was born on March 28, 1930, in Cameron, Missouri, to Walter Levi and Muriel Davis Ensign.

On August 24, 1950, she married L. Merrill Sindt and together they had four daughters, Teala (David) Sipes, Tamara (Rich) Wyble, Jan Sindt, and Beth (Jeff) Reinsch. Barbara and Merrill were also blessed with four granddaughters, Jennie Sipes, Jordan (Shawn) Schaffer, Paige Libbert, and Brooke Reinsch and two great-granddaughters, Avery Schaffer and Addeline Schaffer.

She was preceded in death by her husband Merrill, her granddaughter Jennie, her parents Walter and Muriel, and countless friends and relatives that she will be so excited to see.

Teaching children was Barbara’s passion. At just 17 years old, she started teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, with many of her students only a year or two younger than she was. She taught middle school in Cameron, Missouri, nursery school in North Carolina, Head Start in St Joseph, Missouri, and went on to teach at John Glenn and Minnie Cline Elementary schools in Savannah, Missouri. She retired after many years teaching third and fourth grades at Cole R-V Elementary School in Eugene, Missouri.

Barbara lived a full life. She was a cheerleader at Cameron High School and taught her daughters and granddaughters the Chicka Lacka Cheer at a young age. She could still do the cheer and the moves at 96. She loved to travel and found Nova Scotia to be one of her favorite places. Nothing, however, surpassed her love of Colorado where she and Merrill spent their summers camping in Woodland Park and enjoyed the friends they made there. She enjoyed her church family and although she could never carry a tune, loved to sing the hymns. Most of all, she loved the company of her family and was always happiest when all her girls were together.

Barbara’s family wishes to extend sincere gratitude to those staff members of the Primrose Retirement Community who went out of their way to provide her with loving care and became some of her best friends.

The words she left for us: “I am supremely happy now. Unless I have underestimated this new venture, what a joyous greeting I must have had! You can imagine who came to see me. Whatever I am doing, be assured that I am happy. I am at peace. I left immediately and am in Heaven, seeing the mountains, the ocean, and singing!”

There will be a service to celebrate her life at Wesley United Methodist Church, Jefferson City, on May 16th at 1:30, followed by time to visit with family from 2:00 – 3:30.

Barbara chose to donate her body to the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine Gift of Body Program. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Wesley United Methodist Church, 2727 Wesley Street, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65109.

Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Jefferson City. trimblefunerals.com