Barbara A. Ayres

Services for Barbara Ann (Behnke) Ayres, 84, of Willoughby, will be at 11 AM on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Davis-Babcock Funeral Home, 4154 Clark Avenue, Willoughby.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 PM on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at the funeral home.

Mrs. Ayres passed away Saturday, July 22, 2023.

Born December 13, 1938 in Cleveland, she was a longtime Kirtland resident before moving to Grace Woods in Willoughby ten years ago.

She was a longtime member of Old South Church in Kirtland, an avid Bridge player, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Windermere Chapter #388 and enjoyed her monthly luncheons with the Kirtland retired teachers. She was a volunteer at Breckenridge Village, established a library at Grace Woods and created many care cards for the residents of Breckenridge Village. She and her family were avid puzzlers and hosted exchange students through the AFS program.

Mrs. Ayres was employed as a teacher in the Kirtland Public Schools for 28 years, retiring in 1997 after a career of 32 years. She was the first kindergarten teacher in Kirtland and was instrumental in establishing the kindergarten program.

Survivors are her husband of 63 years, David; sons, Keith (Donna) Ayres and Todd Ayres; grandchildren, Samantha (Edward) Hobaica, David II, Corey, Adrea, Nicholas and Jillian Ayres; great-granddaughter, Natalie Mae Hobaica; sister, Marilyn (Phil) D’Amato and brother, Paul (Margaret) Behnke. She also leaves several nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her father, Kerlin Behnke; her mother, Ada Mary (Dimon) Behnke and her step-mother, Kathy (Itnyre) Behnke.

Final resting place will be in Western Reserve Memorial Gardens, Chester Township, following the service on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to The Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306.