Barbara Ann Rentz

Raleigh, NC.

Barbara Ann Rentz, 99, passed away on June 12 in Raleigh, just three months shy of her 100th birthday. She was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on September 2, 1926, the daughter of Edna Mable (Haines) Flickinger and Edward Horace Flickinger.

On September 14, 1947, she married her high school sweetheart, Richard A. Rentz. They shared 60 years together until his death in 2007. They are the parents of a daughter, Kathleen L. Pearson (John) and grandmother to Amy J. Lindström (Mathias) and David J. Pearson (Tara) great-grandmother to Josephine E. A. Lindström and Madeleine S. I. Lindström who all survive her.

Barbara lived most of her life in Reading until relocating to Raleigh with her family in 2014. For 85 years she lived on a single street in Reading. She grew up in the 1600 block of Mulberry Street and much of her married life in the 1200 block. Barbara was a homemaker who shared her leadership skills in many activities at Nativity Lutheran Church, Reading; Bethany Lutheran Church, Stony Creek Mills and in the Mothers' Club at school. She took pride in never missing voting in an election from the time she was 21 until the most recent primary in March of 2026. Barbara lived independently until she was 98 and enjoyed sewing, needle work, reading and chai tea lattes.

The funeral service will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2723 Clark Street, Raleigh on June 27 at 10 am with Pastor Adam Buff presiding. Burial will be at Laureldale Cemetery in Reading in July.

In honor of Barbara's long involvement in Women of the ELCA, the family requests donations to Women of the ELCA Katie's Fund in lieu of flowers. Kate's Fund is an endowment supporting leadership development. To make an online gift go to welca.org/donate, selecting Katie's Fund in the drop-down designation list.

Or gifts may be sent to ELCA Gift Processing Center, PO Box 1809, Merrifield VA 22116-8009. Note "Katie's Fund WOG0206" in the memo line.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (Women of the ELCA) Katie's Fund:

welca.org/donate to make an online gift, selecting Katie's Fund in the drop-down designation list;

You can also send a check made payable to Women of the ELCA to Women of the ELCA, ELCA Gift Processing Center, PO Box 1809, Merrifield VA 22116-8009. Note "Katie's Fund WOG0206" in the memo line.