Eva Gene Barnett Ahlborn
Exuberant joy. A curiosity for life that was unbridled. Quick to laugh, as much at herself as anything, Eva Gene Barnett Ahlborn sought to enjoy life and soak it up for all that it could offer.
The youngest of five growing up in a small house with a big welcoming porch on a tiny town "farm" in Salem, Kentucky, Eva Gene treasured her family and friends and was delighted to tell stories of them. She was proud of the fierce cooking skills she inherited from her mother, Flora Tyner Barnett, and she enjoyed riding in her dad, Roy Barnett's, lap in their family car, grinning with delight at the wide open hills. Though she was friendly with everyone, became a cheerleader and spelling champ, when her eldest brother Creed moved to Detroit, Eva Gene felt she needed to go after him and find adventure.
Soon after moving up to the big city, Eva Gene met Art Ahlborn in the payroll office of Chrysler Motor Company. He was charmed by her wide toothy smile, and she was enchanted by his deep exploding laugh. Art introduced Eva Gene to the playground that was Lake Orion and they became inseparable; she was the beaming bikini-clad figurehead on the bow of his boats, racing through the water.
After marrying in Lake Orion United Methodist Church, in 1950, they built a home on the lake, and Eva Gene couldn't wait for babies to come. She was so thrilled when she was expecting Michael, she left the doctor's office at two months pregnant, stopped at Hudson's and bought a whole maternity wardrobe! Three more boys followed: David, Larry, and Ted. Eva Gene was in her glory keeping up with them in the kitchen, always some fried chicken, hush puppies, or apple pie to be found. She found work as a cook at a boys' reform school in Oxford, and just loved the residents with her refreshing openness and loving meals. Her enthusiasm for life was channeled in cooking, and she collected recipes the way others collect coins.
She made sure her sons knew her Kentucky roots, and made frequent trips, loving her sister's daughters, Sherry and Diane, as her own.
As her boys grew and married, Eva Gene satisfied some curiosities and began traveling far and wide. After researching her family tree at the Detroit Public Library, she embarked on a solo journey to Scotland, England, and Wales. Later, she convinced Art to take the train to San Francisco, travel to Myrtle Beach, and as far as Hawaii. Her favorite parts of her trips were the same as her favorite part of Lake Orion: meeting new people and hearing their stories while she grinned with genuine interest.
Her family grew to include daughters-in-law Stacey, Kim, Cyndi, and Cherene. She welcomed each of us "girls" by making our wedding cakes- (a legendary cake baker- none of us had a cake top for our first anniversary, or sent our guests home with cake; there was never even a crumb left over.) Eva Gene's pride and glory was her six grandchildren: Larry, Ryan, Paul, Joshua, Taryn, and Gabbi. She showered them with homemade Halloween costumes, salmon cakes, quilts, and above all, time. As much time as they wanted, she always had it to give. Time to eat frosting from the can, ("Oh Lord,") time to plant flowers in the dirt, time for endless games of golf, time to paint a sweatshirt, time to do anything their hearts desired. Eva Gene poured all her love into every single one of us, ceaselessly asking questions about our lives, learning all she could, and sharing her pride in our accomplishments with anyone who would listen.
With her "go-for-it" enthusiasm, she continued her charitable work for the Eastern Star and became Worthy Matron, channeling her unshakeable faith in God to those that needed it most. She continued to enjoy exploring Orion on her bike or later, in her purple van, usually some McDonald's French fries in her lap- just to see what she could see.
Even after a stroke slowed her down five years ago, Eva Gene became the self-appointed social committee at her nursing home. Balloon volleyball anyone? Just last year, she glowed and waved as she took part in the Rochester parade with her fellow residents, her grandkids cheering her on. Eva Gene knew life was a grand adventure every single day, something we all could learn from.
Eva Gene Ahlborn was a dedicated wife, lively mother, a devoted bible scholar, keen note writer, magical biscuit maker, and lover of life. Her spirit has joined her sisters and brothers, as well as Kim, whom we so recently lost, in an existence free of confusion and full of wonder. It helps to think of them joining all of our ranks as our guardian angels. We're most happy to think of Eva Gene back with Art, her husband of 50 years, who knew what he was doing when he nicknamed her E. J. : her exuberant joy knew no boundaries. We know Eva Gene is smiling from ear to ear.
Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 11am at Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, Lake Orion. The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday, February 22, 2019 from 3-7pm at the funeral home. Interment Lakeville Cemetery.
SERVICES
Visitation
Friday, February 22, 2019
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home (Lake Orion)
111 East Flint Street
Lake Orion, Michigan 48362
Get Directions on Google Maps
Funeral Service
Saturday, February 23, 2019
11:00 AM
Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home (Lake Orion)
111 East Flint Street
Lake Orion, Michigan 48362
Exuberant joy. A curiosity for life that was unbridled. Quick to laugh, as much at herself as anything, Eva Gene Barnett Ahlborn sought to enjoy life and soak it up for all that it could offer.
The youngest of five growing up in a small house with a big welcoming porch on a tiny town "farm" in Salem, Kentucky, Eva Gene treasured her family and friends and was delighted to tell stories of them. She was proud of the fierce cooking skills she inherited from her mother, Flora Tyner Barnett, and she enjoyed riding in her dad, Roy Barnett's, lap in their family car, grinning with delight at the wide open hills. Though she was friendly with everyone, became a cheerleader and spelling champ, when her eldest brother Creed moved to Detroit, Eva Gene felt she needed to go after him and find adventure.
Soon after moving up to the big city, Eva Gene met Art Ahlborn in the payroll office of Chrysler Motor Company. He was charmed by her wide toothy smile, and she was enchanted by his deep exploding laugh. Art introduced Eva Gene to the playground that was Lake Orion and they became inseparable; she was the beaming bikini-clad figurehead on the bow of his boats, racing through the water.
After marrying in Lake Orion United Methodist Church, in 1950, they built a home on the lake, and Eva Gene couldn't wait for babies to come. She was so thrilled when she was expecting Michael, she left the doctor's office at two months pregnant, stopped at Hudson's and bought a whole maternity wardrobe! Three more boys followed: David, Larry, and Ted. Eva Gene was in her glory keeping up with them in the kitchen, always some fried chicken, hush puppies, or apple pie to be found. She found work as a cook at a boys' reform school in Oxford, and just loved the residents with her refreshing openness and loving meals. Her enthusiasm for life was channeled in cooking, and she collected recipes the way others collect coins.
She made sure her sons knew her Kentucky roots, and made frequent trips, loving her sister's daughters, Sherry and Diane, as her own.
As her boys grew and married, Eva Gene satisfied some curiosities and began traveling far and wide. After researching her family tree at the Detroit Public Library, she embarked on a solo journey to Scotland, England, and Wales. Later, she convinced Art to take the train to San Francisco, travel to Myrtle Beach, and as far as Hawaii. Her favorite parts of her trips were the same as her favorite part of Lake Orion: meeting new people and hearing their stories while she grinned with genuine interest.
Her family grew to include daughters-in-law Stacey, Kim, Cyndi, and Cherene. She welcomed each of us "girls" by making our wedding cakes- (a legendary cake baker- none of us had a cake top for our first anniversary, or sent our guests home with cake; there was never even a crumb left over.) Eva Gene's pride and glory was her six grandchildren: Larry, Ryan, Paul, Joshua, Taryn, and Gabbi. She showered them with homemade Halloween costumes, salmon cakes, quilts, and above all, time. As much time as they wanted, she always had it to give. Time to eat frosting from the can, ("Oh Lord,") time to plant flowers in the dirt, time for endless games of golf, time to paint a sweatshirt, time to do anything their hearts desired. Eva Gene poured all her love into every single one of us, ceaselessly asking questions about our lives, learning all she could, and sharing her pride in our accomplishments with anyone who would listen.
With her "go-for-it" enthusiasm, she continued her charitable work for the Eastern Star and became Worthy Matron, channeling her unshakeable faith in God to those that needed it most. She continued to enjoy exploring Orion on her bike or later, in her purple van, usually some McDonald's French fries in her lap- just to see what she could see.
Even after a stroke slowed her down five years ago, Eva Gene became the self-appointed social committee at her nursing home. Balloon volleyball anyone? Just last year, she glowed and waved as she took part in the Rochester parade with her fellow residents, her grandkids cheering her on. Eva Gene knew life was a grand adventure every single day, something we all could learn from.
Eva Gene Ahlborn was a dedicated wife, lively mother, a devoted bible scholar, keen note writer, magical biscuit maker, and lover of life. Her spirit has joined her sisters and brothers, as well as Kim, whom we so recently lost, in an existence free of confusion and full of wonder. It helps to think of them joining all of our ranks as our guardian angels. We're most happy to think of Eva Gene back with Art, her husband of 50 years, who knew what he was doing when he nicknamed her E. J. : her exuberant joy knew no boundaries. We know Eva Gene is smiling from ear to ear.
Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 11am at Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, Lake Orion. The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday, February 22, 2019 from 3-7pm at the funeral home. Interment Lakeville Cemetery.
SERVICES
Visitation
Friday, February 22, 2019
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home (Lake Orion)
111 East Flint Street
Lake Orion, Michigan 48362
Get Directions on Google Maps
Funeral Service
Saturday, February 23, 2019
11:00 AM
Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home (Lake Orion)
111 East Flint Street
Lake Orion, Michigan 48362
Eva Gene Barnett Ahlborn
Exuberant joy. A curiosity for life that was unbridled. Quick to laugh, as much at herself as anything, Eva Gene Barnett Ahlborn sought to enjoy life and soak it up for all that it could offer.
The youngest of five growing up in a small house with a big welcoming porch on a tiny town "farm" in Salem, Kentucky, Eva Gene treasured her family and friends and was delighted to tell stories of them. She was proud of the fierce cooking skills she inherited from her mother, Flora Tyner Barnett, and she enjoyed riding in her dad, Roy Barnett's, lap in their family car, grinning with delight at the wide open hills. Though she was friendly with everyone, became a cheerleader and spelling champ, when her eldest brother Creed moved to Detroit, Eva Gene felt she needed to go after him and find adventure.
Soon after moving up to the big city, Eva Gene met Art Ahlborn in the payroll office of Chrysler Motor Company. He was charmed by her wide toothy smile, and she was enchanted by his deep exploding laugh. Art introduced Eva Gene to the playground that was Lake Orion and they became inseparable; she was the beaming bikini-clad figurehead on the bow of his boats, racing through the water.
After marrying in Lake Orion United Methodist Church, in 1950, they built a home on the lake, and Eva Gene couldn't wait for babies to come. She was so thrilled when she was expecting Michael, she left the doctor's office at two months pregnant, stopped at Hudson's and bought a whole maternity wardrobe! Three more boys followed: David, Larry, and Ted. Eva Gene was in her glory keeping up with them in the kitchen, always some fried chicken, hush puppies, or apple pie to be found. She found work as a cook at a boys' reform school in Oxford, and just loved the residents with her refreshing openness and loving meals. Her enthusiasm for life was channeled in cooking, and she collected recipes the way others collect coins.
She made sure her sons knew her Kentucky roots, and made frequent trips, loving her sister's daughters, Sherry and Diane, as her own.
As her boys grew and married, Eva Gene satisfied some curiosities and began traveling far and wide. After researching her family tree at the Detroit Public Library, she embarked on a solo journey to Scotland, England, and Wales. Later, she convinced Art to take the train to San Francisco, travel to Myrtle Beach, and as far as Hawaii. Her favorite parts of her trips were the same as her favorite part of Lake Orion: meeting new people and hearing their stories while she grinned with genuine interest.
Her family grew to include daughters-in-law Stacey, Kim, Cyndi, and Cherene. She welcomed each of us "girls" by making our wedding cakes- (a legendary cake baker- none of us had a cake top for our first anniversary, or sent our guests home with cake; there was never even a crumb left over.) Eva Gene's pride and glory was her six grandchildren: Larry, Ryan, Paul, Joshua, Taryn, and Gabbi. She showered them with homemade Halloween costumes, salmon cakes, quilts, and above all, time. As much time as they wanted, she always had it to give. Time to eat frosting from the can, ("Oh Lord,") time to plant flowers in the dirt, time for endless games of golf, time to paint a sweatshirt, time to do anything their hearts desired. Eva Gene poured all her love into every single one of us, ceaselessly asking questions about our lives, learning all she could, and sharing her pride in our accomplishments with anyone who would listen.
With her "go-for-it" enthusiasm, she continued her charitable work for the Eastern Star and became Worthy Matron, channeling her unshakeable faith in God to those that needed it most. She continued to enjoy exploring Orion on her bike or later, in her purple van, usually some McDonald's French fries in her lap- just to see what she could see.
Even after a stroke slowed her down five years ago, Eva Gene became the self-appointed social committee at her nursing home. Balloon volleyball anyone? Just last year, she glowed and waved as she took part in the Rochester parade with her fellow residents, her grandkids cheering her on. Eva Gene knew life was a grand adventure every single day, something we all could learn from.
Eva Gene Ahlborn was a dedicated wife, lively mother, a devoted bible scholar, keen note writer, magical biscuit maker, and lover of life. Her spirit has joined her sisters and brothers, as well as Kim, whom we so recently lost, in an existence free of confusion and full of wonder. It helps to think of them joining all of our ranks as our guardian angels. We're most happy to think of Eva Gene back with Art, her husband of 50 years, who knew what he was doing when he nicknamed her E. J. : her exuberant joy knew no boundaries. We know Eva Gene is smiling from ear to ear.
Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 11am at Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, Lake Orion. The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday, February 22, 2019 from 3-7pm at the funeral home. Interment Lakeville Cemetery.
SERVICES
Visitation
Friday, February 22, 2019
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home (Lake Orion)
111 East Flint Street
Lake Orion, Michigan 48362
Get Directions on Google Maps
Funeral Service
Saturday, February 23, 2019
11:00 AM
Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home (Lake Orion)
111 East Flint Street
Lake Orion, Michigan 48362
Exuberant joy. A curiosity for life that was unbridled. Quick to laugh, as much at herself as anything, Eva Gene Barnett Ahlborn sought to enjoy life and soak it up for all that it could offer.
The youngest of five growing up in a small house with a big welcoming porch on a tiny town "farm" in Salem, Kentucky, Eva Gene treasured her family and friends and was delighted to tell stories of them. She was proud of the fierce cooking skills she inherited from her mother, Flora Tyner Barnett, and she enjoyed riding in her dad, Roy Barnett's, lap in their family car, grinning with delight at the wide open hills. Though she was friendly with everyone, became a cheerleader and spelling champ, when her eldest brother Creed moved to Detroit, Eva Gene felt she needed to go after him and find adventure.
Soon after moving up to the big city, Eva Gene met Art Ahlborn in the payroll office of Chrysler Motor Company. He was charmed by her wide toothy smile, and she was enchanted by his deep exploding laugh. Art introduced Eva Gene to the playground that was Lake Orion and they became inseparable; she was the beaming bikini-clad figurehead on the bow of his boats, racing through the water.
After marrying in Lake Orion United Methodist Church, in 1950, they built a home on the lake, and Eva Gene couldn't wait for babies to come. She was so thrilled when she was expecting Michael, she left the doctor's office at two months pregnant, stopped at Hudson's and bought a whole maternity wardrobe! Three more boys followed: David, Larry, and Ted. Eva Gene was in her glory keeping up with them in the kitchen, always some fried chicken, hush puppies, or apple pie to be found. She found work as a cook at a boys' reform school in Oxford, and just loved the residents with her refreshing openness and loving meals. Her enthusiasm for life was channeled in cooking, and she collected recipes the way others collect coins.
She made sure her sons knew her Kentucky roots, and made frequent trips, loving her sister's daughters, Sherry and Diane, as her own.
As her boys grew and married, Eva Gene satisfied some curiosities and began traveling far and wide. After researching her family tree at the Detroit Public Library, she embarked on a solo journey to Scotland, England, and Wales. Later, she convinced Art to take the train to San Francisco, travel to Myrtle Beach, and as far as Hawaii. Her favorite parts of her trips were the same as her favorite part of Lake Orion: meeting new people and hearing their stories while she grinned with genuine interest.
Her family grew to include daughters-in-law Stacey, Kim, Cyndi, and Cherene. She welcomed each of us "girls" by making our wedding cakes- (a legendary cake baker- none of us had a cake top for our first anniversary, or sent our guests home with cake; there was never even a crumb left over.) Eva Gene's pride and glory was her six grandchildren: Larry, Ryan, Paul, Joshua, Taryn, and Gabbi. She showered them with homemade Halloween costumes, salmon cakes, quilts, and above all, time. As much time as they wanted, she always had it to give. Time to eat frosting from the can, ("Oh Lord,") time to plant flowers in the dirt, time for endless games of golf, time to paint a sweatshirt, time to do anything their hearts desired. Eva Gene poured all her love into every single one of us, ceaselessly asking questions about our lives, learning all she could, and sharing her pride in our accomplishments with anyone who would listen.
With her "go-for-it" enthusiasm, she continued her charitable work for the Eastern Star and became Worthy Matron, channeling her unshakeable faith in God to those that needed it most. She continued to enjoy exploring Orion on her bike or later, in her purple van, usually some McDonald's French fries in her lap- just to see what she could see.
Even after a stroke slowed her down five years ago, Eva Gene became the self-appointed social committee at her nursing home. Balloon volleyball anyone? Just last year, she glowed and waved as she took part in the Rochester parade with her fellow residents, her grandkids cheering her on. Eva Gene knew life was a grand adventure every single day, something we all could learn from.
Eva Gene Ahlborn was a dedicated wife, lively mother, a devoted bible scholar, keen note writer, magical biscuit maker, and lover of life. Her spirit has joined her sisters and brothers, as well as Kim, whom we so recently lost, in an existence free of confusion and full of wonder. It helps to think of them joining all of our ranks as our guardian angels. We're most happy to think of Eva Gene back with Art, her husband of 50 years, who knew what he was doing when he nicknamed her E. J. : her exuberant joy knew no boundaries. We know Eva Gene is smiling from ear to ear.
Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 11am at Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, Lake Orion. The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday, February 22, 2019 from 3-7pm at the funeral home. Interment Lakeville Cemetery.
SERVICES
Visitation
Friday, February 22, 2019
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home (Lake Orion)
111 East Flint Street
Lake Orion, Michigan 48362
Get Directions on Google Maps
Funeral Service
Saturday, February 23, 2019
11:00 AM
Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home (Lake Orion)
111 East Flint Street
Lake Orion, Michigan 48362
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