Obituary of Barbara Grace Parmele

Barbara Grace Parmele, 81, of Bellefonte, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at her residence. She was born September 19, 1941 in Washington D.C. to the late Herman and Mildred Cronemeyer. Growing up in Washington, she attended Anacostia High School where she met her future husband Leslie Howard Parmele. Barbara and Leslie married on December 23, 1961 in Washington D.C. and moved to State College, PA where Leslie was a student at Penn State University.

Barbara and Leslie made their home in the State College area, living in Houserville for more than 40 years where they raised their four children. Barbara was an active member of the State College Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years serving in numerous roles from Sunday School Teacher to Deacon.

After earning her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Penn State University, Barbara embarked on a career helping children. She worked for Strawberry Fields assisting students with disabilities and then with the Child Development Council. She then earned a master's degree in Guidance Counseling and worked for the Central Intermediate Unit 10 as a guidance counselor for students across the Center Region.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband Leslie and granddaughter Rameelya Farhootdeenova. She is survived by four children, Stephen Parmele and his wife Natalya of State College, Laura Parmele of Philipsburg, David Parmele and his wife Barbara of Ashburn, VA, and Jennifer Leach and her husband Paul of Waldoboro, ME; two siblings, Joan Malueg and her husband Robert of Caroline, WI, and Thomas Cronemeyer and his wife Brenda of Albany, GA; four grandchildren, Nathan, Jacob, Rachel and Megan; and one great-grandchild, Ula.

Visitation will be from 1-2 pm on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at State College Presbyterian Church, 132 W. Beaver Avenue, State College. A memorial service will follow at 2 pm at the church with Pastor John Porter officiating.

Burial will be in East Bloomfield Cemetery, NY at a later date.

Barbara loved dogs and adopted many throughout her lifetime. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Centre County PAWS, centrecountypaws.org/donate.

Online condolences may be entered at kochfuneralhome.com or by visiting us on Facebook.