Barbara Kaplan

Barbara Kaplan, age 70, of Wilmington, passed away Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at her home. She was born December 6, 1950 in Glendale, Ohio.

Barbara was a loving wife of 50 years to Benjamin Kaplan, mother to Dr. Rachel Kaplan (Stapleton) and Emma Kaplan (Allen), MA Special Education, and a grandmother to Ethan and Olivia Stapleton and Isaac and Willow Allen. She was loved and cherished by her sisters-in-law, Gail Kaplan Schwartz, Donna Kaplan McAdams, RN, and brother-in-law, Sandy McAdams. Loving mother-in-law to Dr. Byron Stapleton and Christopher Allen and adored by her parents-in-law, Dr. Elliot and Mrs. Irma Kaplan.

Crowned Miss Wool of Ohio in 1969 and second runner up in the Miss Wool of America Pageant in 1970. Hosted by singer Jack Jones and folk singer Nancy Ames. The celebrity judges included, movie star Glenn Ford, Academy Award winning costume designer, Travilla and Rosemary McMurtry, Executive Director of Seventeen Magazine. Barbara was asked to model for seventeen magazine, but declined as she wanted to pursue a career in education.

She enjoyed teaching in the Blanchester and Wilmington school systems for 9 years. Barbara was approached by Dr. Robert Lucas of Wilmington College to become his administrative assistant. She accepted and shortly thereafter became the Dean of Students for Wilmington College. After many years as Dean of Students, she accepted the position of Director of Career Services at the college. She retired from Wilmington College after 32 years of dedicated service.

Barbara was a positive and loving person. She was known for her kindness, integrity, and honesty. She loved vacations with her family, spending time with her friends, the outdoors, horseback riding, and a lover of wildlife. She was the past leader of the Hitchhiker Celtic Band and a member of the Charmz Band. Barb often played for the residents of Cape May in Wilmington.

A Celebration of life will be announced at a later date. She will be loved and missed by all.

Fisher-Edgington Funeral Home, Wilmington, is serving the family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Barbara's memory may be made to the Pilot Dogs, located in Columbus, Ohio, an organization that provides guide dogs for blind individuals, www.pilotdogs.org or to the Tom Harvey Memorial Dog Park c/o Judy Harvey, 404 Booth Ave. Wilmington, OH 45177.