Barbara June Mullin Hess, 63, of Bloomington, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on Sept. 5, 2012. She was born May 17, 1949, in Logansport, to Lewis N. and Hazel E. (Stockrahm) Mullin. Barbara grew up on a farm near Burrows, in Carroll County. She graduated from Delphi High School in 1967. She attended Indiana University, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. After arriving in Bloomington in 1967, it became her lifelong home.

Barbara was a natural teacher. She was employed at dePaul School for 15 years — often describing this job as “the hardest job I ever loved.” She also taught at Monroe County Community School System and Brown County School System. Additionally, she was a private tutor for children with disabilities, and volunteered, through the VITAL program, to help students learn to read, study and pass their GED exam.

She greatly enjoyed traveling. While in high school she was an exchange student in Switzerland. She also traveled throughout Europe, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean Islands.

Barbara was a talented artist, expressing her creativity through quilting, embroidery, drawing and card making. She loved working in her garden, a garden which provided her not only with food but also with dried flowers used in her card making.

She is survived by her son, Garret Hess of Bloomington; her parents, Lewis and Hazel Mullin; her brother and sister-in-law, William and Norma Mullin of Delphi; a niece; a nephew; and five great-nieces. She leaves behind a multitude of friends.

Barbara hopes she will be remembered as someone who loved her family, her friends and animals. She is grateful to Rev. Lauri Boyd and Unity Church. In remembrance and in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Pinnacle School, Unity Church or Hospice of IU Bloomington.

A celebration of Barbara June’s life will be at Waterfall Shelter in Cascades Park in Bloomington on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, from 4-8 p.m. Bring stories and memories to celebrate. A private family burial is planned at Camden Cemetery in Camden, where her ashes will rest among many ancestors.

Cree Funeral Home, Camden, assisted the family with arrangements.