Barbara Stoup

Barbara Ann (Holycross) Stoup, age 96, died on October 18th, 2025. Born on April 18th, 1929, in rural Vermillion County, IL, to Manford and Mary (Moudy) Holycross, Barbara was the youngest of 10 children. She attended Butternut Grade School and graduated as salutatorian from Perrysville High School in 1947. While she was in high school, Barbara was a record-setting track star, excelling in the 50-yard and 100-yard dashes as well as the 440-yard relay.

She married Fred Stoup, who had been the valedictorian of their class, on July 1st, 1950. Together they celebrated 61 years of marriage until Fred’s death on November 28th, 2011.

Barbara was a homemaker and loved spending time in the yard and garden, and an avid bowler, earning numerous awards and trophies. Barbara and Fred, who their grandchildren called “Nan” and “Pop”, never missed a moment of a volleyball, baseball, basketball, or softball game that their grandchildren played in. They were especially proud of their granddaughter, Kayla, for her role in leading the NV Lady Falcons basketball team to a state final championship in 2002, a state runner-up title in 2003, and a 50 game winning streak over the two seasons. Barbara closely followed Purdue basketball as well.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; parents; brothers Kleeman, Earl, Wayne, and Harold Holycross; sisters, Virgie Hathaway, Mazie Hines/Hoskins, Hattie Krabbe, Mary Mildred (Middo) Fisher; son-in-law, Don Gill; daughter-in-law, Paula Stoup; and life-long friends, Doris (Jones) Dunham, Beverly (Prather) Friedland, and LaVada (Webb) Lawlyes. There is no doubt that they will all welcome her into heaven.

She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda (Ken “Cruiser”) Gentrup; son, Dwight Stoup; grandchildren, Donny Gill, Kayla (Joshua) Jackson, Eric (Teresa) Stoup; 4 additional step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren, Eli, and Iris Gill, Farah Jackson, Katelin, Maggie, and Tobias Stoup; as well as 10 more step-great-grandchildren.

Barbara was a lifetime member of Coal Branch Church, where she was a humble servant and a prayer warrior.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Fountain Springs in Covington, where she met many new friends. She was known around the senior center for entertaining staff and residents alike with her many antics. In her final months, Barbara received care from Southern Care Hospice. The family will be eternally grateful to them, especially Kylee, Abbie, Candice, and Jim.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, October 28th, at the funeral home from 11 am the funeral hour at 1 pm (Eastern). A funeral service to commemorate Barbara’s life and service to the Lord will begin at 1 pm and will be led by Pastor Tracy Taulman. Burial will follow at Lower Mound Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Barbara’s honor to the Kirk Gentrup Scholarship Foundation or to Fountain Springs Memory Care in Covington to provide special activities to residents.

Arrangements entrusted to Shelby & Keller Funeral Home 622 3rd St., Covington, IN 47932 | (765) 793-2221 | www.shelbykellerfh.com