Barbara Ann Clark Hofer, 82, formerly of South Whitley, died unexpectedly at 9:06 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at Parkview Noble in Kendallville, where she was taken from Sacred Heart Village in Avilla.

Born on February 5, 1942, in Madison, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of the late Betty Shipley.  Growing up in Madison, she was raised by her mother, grandparents Jay and Francis Shipley, and step-father Walter Ciolkos.  The family moved to Angola, Indiana, where Barbara attended Angola High School.

Working at a local pharmacy in Angola, she met and married a pharmacist, Howard F. Clark, Jr., on November 9, 1958, beginning their 31 years together raising three boys.  From 1961 to 1965, they lived in Walkerton.  In 1965, the couple purchased a Pharmacy in South Whitley, naming it Clark Drug Store, which they ran until 1987.  Howard died on October 18, 1989.

On August 17, 1991, she married Reverend John E. Hofer.  They made their home in Millersburg until January 1997, when they moved to South Whitley.  John died on September 2, 2024.

In addition to raising her family and working at the pharmacy, Barbara had volunteered at the Whitley County Memorial Hospital and was an active member of the Eberhard Lutheran Church.

Surviving are her children, Mark Clark of South Whitley, Jim Clark of Indianapolis and Christopher (Terri) Clark of Avilla; step-children, Mark (Joyce) Hofer of Goshen, Michael Hofer of Fort Wayne, and Martin "Herb" (Tammy) Hofer of Valparaiso; grandchildren, Shawn (Rob) Love, Melissa (Josh) Ledford, Zachary (Becki) McCue, Seth Miller, Madison (Noah) Shepherd, Mariah (Ethan) Lash, Cassidy Clark, Cordell Hofer, Alexander Hofer, Dominic Hofer, Stephanie (Clay) Kennerk, Ella Hofer, Katharine Hofer, John Hofer, Matthew Hofer, Eliana Clark, and Abriel Clark; brothers, Michael (Tina) Ciolkos of Angola and Thomas (Jill) Schee of Westby, WI and a brother-in-law, Nelson Langefeld of Cincinnati, OH.

Additionally, he was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Charlotte Langefeld.

A combined service for Barbara and her son Mark is Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.  Burial is at South Whitley Cemetery.  Visitation is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials in Barbara's honor are to the Eberhard Lutheran Church.