Barbara Jean Bickers, 81 of Champaign passed away peacefully 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana surrounded by family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Faith Baptist Church, 4601 N. Market St. in Champaign. Pastor Bob Hassel will officiate.
Burial will take place at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign. Pastor Roger VanRaden will officiate the graveside service. A visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 29, 2018 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel in Urbana.
Barb was born in Decatur on May 18, 1937 to parents Ernest and Tessie (Tucker) Dyson. They preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were her grandparents Willie and Ada Bledsaw and aunts Lillie Hill and Vivian Bundy who all were instrumental in raising and loving Barb, to become the amazing woman that she was.
On September 30, 1956 Barb married the love of her life Victor “Bill” Bickers in Urbana. He survives. Also surviving are their children; Michael D. Bickers of Hastings, FL, Katrina (Tina) L. Roberts (Guy) of Mahomet and Trevis J. Bickers of Mahomet.
Eleven grandchildren: Matthew (Stefanie), Victoria (Kurt), Nicholas (Alexis), Kevin (Kat), Jordan, Daunte, Nathan, Daniel, Joshua, and Haley. Ten great grandchildren that brought Barb so much joy also survive her. Barb was a graduate of Urbana High School and received her diploma from business school.
Barb was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Champaign. She worked as an administrative assistant for the law offices of Webber and Theis and the Urbana School District. She was a member of the Illinois Women’s Bowling Association and is in the Bowlers Hall of Fame for service to the game.
She spent many Saturday mornings at the bowling alley coaching youth, including her two sons, sharing her passion for bowling. Barb was a talented member of the Illinois Heartland Decorative Artist, sharing her talents and faithfully serving on many committees. Barb shared her love for painting with her daughter.
Barbs world revolved around her family and friends. She loved being a wife to the love of her life, mother, and an incredible homemaker. She was also the ultimate Bulldog Grandma, whether it was driving to Albuquerque, New Mexico to watch her grandson fulfill a dream of playing in the State tournament to spending or the countless hours she spent sitting in the bleachers watching her grandchildren play basketball, football, wrestle, and run track.
Whatever it was she loved being a cow bell ringing, cheering Bulldog Grandma. Barb loved spending time with her friends bowling, playing cards, and painting. Nothing brought Barb to life like a deck of cards!
She loved hanging out and playing card games with her friends and family. Barb had a full and fruitful life, always surrounding herself with what mattered most to her, her family and friends. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Youth Program at Faith Baptist Church in Champaign.
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