SOUTH CHINA – Barbara Ann Griebel was born in Detroit, Mich. on July 12, 1927, and passed Sept. 27, with her son by her side after a long battle with cancer. The daughter of Albert C. and Helen O. McCann of Lawton, Mich., she was the eldest of four children. She met and married William “Bill” Griebel in Kalamazoo.

She belonged to many churches in Auburn, and was a former president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Michigan. She was very kind to animals, having worked in the pet department at W. T. Grant in Kalamazoo until its closing. She would talk to everyone, everywhere, at any time, making sure you knew her and would remember her years later. We will all miss her very much because she was so very special.

She is survived by her only child, William “Bill” Griebel and his wife, Betty, of South China; grandsons Keith West, of Lewiston, and Nick Griebel, of Auburn; two sisters, Joan Hamel and her husband, Richard, of Lawton, Mich., and Gerry Green and her husband, Bud, of Fort Myers, Fla.; nephews Douglas and David Hamel; nieces Mary Ellen Vette, of Lawton, Colleen Hamel, of Lawton, Cheryl Ewing, of Lawton, Ruth Muinch, of Fulton, and Christine Richards, of Lawton. She is also survived by many other nieces and nephews of several generations, in Michigan and in Auburn, Ind., whom she loved all so dearly.

She is predeceased by her only husband, William “Bill” Griebel, Sr.; friend and companion, Ronald Ayers, of Delton, Mich.; younger sister, Margel; and her parents.

I wish to thank the people that became her friends for the many years of your love, understanding and friendship. Services will be in Kalamazoo at a later date to be announced.