Barbara Ruth Bauer Bergeron

Barbara Ruth Bauer Bergeron

May 28, 1931 – March 6, 2026

Beloved mother, grandmother, friend, and Christian servant, Barbara Ruth Bauer Bergeron entered the eternal presence of God on March 6, 2026.

Barbara was born in Orange, Texas, on May 28, 1931, to Stephen Sydney and Bertha Godwin Bauer. She was the youngest of two daughters, preceded by her older sister, Mary Eva, who was born two years earlier.

Barbara graduated from Lutcher Stark High School in Orange in 1949 and later earned an Associate’s Degree from Central Texas College in Port Arthur in 1982. Following high school, she was briefly married to George Fletcher. After their divorce, she met and married Jacob Charles Kloor. Charles served in the U.S. Navy, and the couple moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where he was stationed at Naval Station Norfolk. While there, Barbara gave birth to their only child, Linda Patrice, in 1955.

In 1962, following her divorce from Charles, Barbara returned to Orange with her seven year old daughter. She moved into an apartment in the Riverside area and immediately began working at Sears and Roebuck, along with various other retail and service positions over the years. In 1966, she met and married Larry Bergeron, and together they moved into their home on Edgemont Drive. They remained there until a tragic automobile accident claimed Larry’s life in 1996, leaving Barbara widowed.

Upon returning to Orange, Barbara rejoined her childhood church, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where she devoted a tremendous amount of her time and talent in faithful service to God. She organized and directed a Wednesday night Outreach Dinner and devotional service for the Orange community, a ministry she continued to cook for and oversee until her 94th birthday, when her illness forced her to step down.

Barbara also organized and cooked for the annual Christmas Day Ministry, which provided a united Christmas meal in the church’s Fellowship Hall for those in need—financially or emotionally. This ministry later partnered with Meals on Wheels, enabling volunteers to prepare and deliver more than 250 meals each Christmas Day to individuals who could not leave their homes or cook for themselves.

Throughout her years at the church, Barbara served in nearly every volunteer role imaginable—Elder, Deacon, Board Chair, Choir member, custodian, dishwasher, Bible study leader, and Sunday School teacher. She stepped in as an adult Sunday School teacher when her mother became too ill to continue and remained in that role until her own illness required her to retire. Beyond her Wednesday night dinner ministry, Barbara also led an advanced Thursday morning Bible study for over 20 years. Participants often joked that the study was so in depth that, over two decades, they only managed to make it through the entire Bible one and a half times.

Barbara’s most recent pastor, Dr. Gary McCormick, was deeply impressed by her knowledge of biblical commentaries and theological resources. He frequently asked her to fill the pulpit in his absence and attended her Sunday School class each week, often remarking that she knew more about the Bible than many of his seminary professors.

Barbara’s hobbies included cooking, gardening, sewing, biblical research, caring for cats, and choral music. A woman of deep faith and devotion to the Lord, she was especially committed to meeting the needs of the less fortunate in her community, whatever those needs might be.

Barbara is survived by her loving daughter, Linda Patrice Thompson, her grandson, Ian Guy Paris Thompson, as well as one niece and one nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen Sydney and Bertha Godwin Bauer, and her sister, Mary Eva Bauer Sisson.

A Celebration of Life service is being planned for what would have been Barbara’s 95th birthday, May 28, 2026, at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), located at 611 9th Street, Orange, Texas 77630. A community luncheon will be held at noon in the Fellowship Hall, prepared under the leadership of Barbara’s daughter, Linda, along with the church’s Hospitality Committee that faithfully assisted Barbara with Wednesday night meals. The Celebration service will follow in the Sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Christian Church in support of its Outreach Ministries.