Barbara Benson Waters

Barbara Benson Waters of Roseland, Virginia, formerly of Richmond, Virgina, passed peacefully on July 30, 2026, just weeks after celebrating her 93rd birthday.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Waters; her parents, Gretchen and Willie Benson; her sisters and brothers-in law, Winnie and Lou Russell, and Betty and Colyar Emison; her brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Elsie Benson; her niece, Patricia, and her husband, Walt Patrick; her nephew, Ted Waters; and her niece, Suzanne McCormack.

She is lovingly remembered by her children, Rick (Pat) Waters, Debbie (Allen) Yoho, Gretchen (Robert) Mangone and Dottie (Todd) Stebbing. She is also survived by grandchildren, Daniel (Kelly) Waters, James (Shannon) Waters, Michael Waters, Gene Yoho, Jennifer (Chase) Quick, Melanie (Kevin) Lawhorne, Alyssa Westenberger, Jason (Kara) Mangone, Christopher (Lauren) Mangone, Jared (Nicole) Mangone, Rachael (Carey) Van, Sarah Stebbing and Todd Stebbing.

Barbara was blessed with 19 great-grandchildren, Knox and Jensen Waters; Elijah and Nathaniel Quick; Monica, Emry and Lennix Lawhorne; Gabriel Westenberger; Joseph, Anna, Anthony and Giovanni Mangone; Louis, Vincent and Angelo Mangone; Amelia and Clara Mangone; and Henry and Olive Van. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gerald and Patricia Waters; many beloved nieces and nephews, and her devoted caregiver, Vickie Parson.

Barbara was born in Huntersville, West Virginia, in 1933. She graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond, Virginia, in 1950 and cherished attending and helping to plan class reunions throughout her life. Barbara married Gene on April 11, 1952.

Over the years Barbara and Gene made their home in Atlanta, Georgia; Norfolk, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; Hong Kong, China; and Phoenix, Arizona. After Gene's passing, Barbara lived in Mechanicsville, Virginia; Glen Allen, Virginia; Stuarts Draft, Virginia; Roseland,

Virginia; and Lyndhurst, Virginia.

Barbara treasured her family and friends, found joy in traveling, playing bridge, cards and games with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, reading, crafts and attending family reunions in Cass, West Virginia.

Throughout her career, she worked as a bookkeeper or office manager for Dunkums Auto, Patrick's Auto Service, Gainey Ranch, Waters Construction, Oak Hill Golf Course, Kemper Insurance, and the Baptist Foreign Mission Board.

Barbara was a faithful member of Tuckahoe Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia, while raising her family, where she volunteered as a Bible School teacher each summer. Later, in retirement, she was a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Glen Allen, Virginia, where her volunteer service included home and nursing facility visits. She attended Jonesboro Baptist Church in her last years.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on August 22, 2026, at Jonesboro Baptist Church, 9215 Patrick Henry Highway, Roseland, Virginia 22967. The service will be streamed at the following link: https://youtube.com/live/u96mFv9DQbc?feature=share

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jonesboro Baptist Church, P.O. Box 40, Roseland, Virginia 22967.