BARBARA BARON

Barbara was born in Wheeling, WV on February 24, 1933 and was raised in Warwood, WV by her late parents, Jane and Roy Greenlee. She attended Warwood High School and was the head majorette. Barbara met her former husband, Irvin Etter, there and they raised two children, Cindi Skelton of Houston, TX, and Mark Etter of Russell, KY. They lived in Bethany, WV, Cleveland, OH, Waukegan, IL, and Wintersville, OH. Barbara later met her second husband, Robert Baron, through their passion in flying and married in 1971. They raised her two children and his four children, David Baron of Rochester, MI, Tom Baron of Valencia, PA, Steve Baron of Allison Park, PA, and Ginny Trownson of Hudson, OH, living on a beautiful 80-acre property in Wellsburg, WV.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Baron and her sister, Royann Doak.

Barbara lived a life full of love and adventure. She was active in golf, bowling, travelling the world, and most enthusiastically in flying. She received her private pilot’s license in 1968 and then received her instructor’s license, teaching out of Weirton and Wheeling airports. She was the first woman in the state of West Virginia to receive a Flight Examiner’s License allowing her to test others earning their private pilot’s license. She flew in two Powder Puff Derbys in the 1970’s with another lady pilot each transcontinental trip.

In 1984, Barbara and Bob moved to Martinsville, VA and took over the management of the Blue Ridge County Airport. Barbara continued to instruct and test pilots and earned instrument, commercial and multi-engine pilot licenses. In 2023 she earned her name on the Wall of Honor at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Barbara moved to Houston, TX in 2015 to be closer to her daughter Cindi, after her husband Bob had passed away a few years earlier. She lived there until her passing.

Barbara is survived by her six children, two nieces, sixteen grandchildren, and fourteen great-grand children.

Friends will be received on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Kepner Funeral Home, 900 National Rd. Wheeling, service at 2:00 pm. Graveside services will be held after the funeral service at Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Research.