Barbara Jean (Emge) Bender, 93, of Fort Branch, IN, died Saturday, January 20, 2018.

Mrs. Bender was born on January 1, 1925, to Oscar Emil and Theresa (Greubel) Emge of Fort Branch, IN.

Barbara Jean worked in the administrative office of Emge & Sons and subsequently Emge Packing Co., Inc. in Fort Branch until her marriage to Frederick Leo Bender, on February 24, 1949, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Fort Branch.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Fred, on June 12, 2010, after having celebrated 61 years of marriage. Barbara Jean was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Fort Branch, where she and her husband, Fred, were recipients of the Bishop Brute Award.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Edward Emge, her sister, Mildred Chaille, and her brother, Walter Emge.

Barbara Jean is survived by five children, John F. Bender (Diane), of Evansville, IN, Janet B. Oldham (David), of Princeton, IN, Maryann B. Hubbard (Robert), of Evansville, IN, Teresa B. Powell (David), of Worthington, IN, and Robert M. Bender (Tracey), of Fort Branch, IN; ten grandchildren, Rachel B. Dennis (Jason), Jennifer A. Wilson (Lonnie), Justin D. Oldham (Lindsey), Dr. Andrew D. Powell (Nadine), Brian R. Hubbard (Meredith), Michael J. Powell (Theresa), Brittany E. Attebury (Kyle), Jessica N. Bender, Thomas J. Bender, and Katherine D. Bender; twelve great-grandchildren, Isaac Dennis, Henry Dennis, Sloane Oldham, Meyer Oldham, Tyler Wilson, Kate Wilson, Luke Wilson, Caroline Hubbard, Grady Powell, Leland Powell, Kru Attebury, and Kamryn Attebury; and Barbara Jean’s sister, Mary Jane Busing of Anderson, IN.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Holy Cross Church in Fort Branch, IN, with Fathers Tony Ernst and Ambrose Wanyonyi as co-celebrants.

Visitation will be at Stodghill Funeral Home in Fort Branch, IN, on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and again at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, from 10:00 AM to service time. Rosary services will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at 3:30 PM at Stodghill Funeral Home. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Branch following mass.