The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Barbara Ruth Westphal, 65, of Orange, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, at her home. Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 5, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Deacon Eddie Blankenstein of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Cremation will follow under the direction of Claybar Haven of Rest Crematory. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Friday at the funeral home in Orange.

Barbara was born March 21, 1947, the daughter of Edmund and Bessie (Haynes) Riggs. She worked at many restaurants over the years, both as Manager and wait staff. She loved meeting people and talking to them, no matter what walk of life they were from. But Barbara was most proud of her kitchen with all of her gadgets, where she made big meals for her family on holidays.

Barbara worked for Organization of Christians Assisting People (OCAP). She was proud of being able to help many adults get their GED. She went on to West Orange School District, where she was a computer tech. Barbara then moved on to Park Place/Mid-Jefferson Hospital, where she became Director of Information Systems. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Issac Alexander and Estelle Toma Haynes; parents, Edmund and Bessie (Haynes) Riggs; brother, John Riggs; and sisters, Mary Riggs and Loudon Riggs Johnson.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Paul Emil Westphal; daughters, Mary Michelle (Covington) Jones and Angela (Covington) Granger; son, Charles C. Westphal; and grandchildren, Alex Jones, Chad Bennett, Paul Ryan Kibodeaux, Christopher McDaniel, and Hayley Dilliner.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Allison McDaniel, Kylie Jones, Lillian Green; brother, Robert Riggs; niece, Deborah Johnson; and great-nieces, Ashley Watson and Paige Dagger.