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Barbara Jean Lewton, age 84, of Sturgis, died unexpectedly on Friday, February 6, 2026, at her residence.
She was born March 19, 1941 in Decatur, Indiana, to Paul E. and Georgia A. (Yaney) Arnold.
Barb grew up on the family farm in Adams County and was a graduate of Adams Central High School. She went on to graduate from Manchester College with a degree in elementary education and later earned her master’s degree in education from the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne.
She began her teaching career in the mid-1960s. In 1974, Barb moved to Topeka, Indiana, and in 1975 began teaching at Topeka Elementary School, where her career spanned more than 40 years. She taught both kindergarten and fourth grade, spending most of her career with fourth-grade students. She took great pride in her work and in the many lives she influenced over the years—once even teaching a student who later became her principal and supervisor during her final years at the school.
In December 1963, she married Richard C. Lewton at Pleasant Dale Church in Decatur, Indiana. He survives.
Barb loved birds and was a member of the National Audubon Society. She enjoyed quilting baby blankets for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and found great peace at her lake cottage on Minnewaukan Lake, a place she had treasured since 1967. She also enjoyed gardening, tending flowers and plants, and was very musical, playing piano for many years at church.
She was a member of New Life Fellowship in Topeka and had also been attending Radiant Life Church in Sturgis.
Surviving are her two sons, Todd Lewton of Chicago, and Jason Lewton of Sturgis; five grandchildren, Austin (Jeslyn) Lewton of Shipshewana, Jaron (Caitlin) Lewton of LaGrange, Logan (Katie) Lewton of Shipshewana, Kolten (Amy) Lewton of LaGrange, and Gretchen Lewton (Owen Bowersox) of Sturgis; eight great-grandchildren, Everett, Emerson, Elliana, Smith, Emma, Ila, Josie, and Beckham; and two brothers, Dennis Arnold of Reno, Nevada, and Ronald Arnold of Decatur, Indiana.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter-in-law, Melisa Lewton.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at New Life Fellowship, 2755 S. State Road 5, Topeka, Indiana.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the church with Pastor Russ Hunsberger officiating. Additional visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the service time.
Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Howe, Indiana.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be given in Barbara’s memory to Compassion Pregnancy of LaGrange County. https://www.cpcni.org/donate-1
Arrangements by Frurip-May Funeral Home.
