Donna R. Barber, 77, of Hanahan, SC, widow of George A. Barber, entered into eternal rest Friday, September 9, 2016. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, September 13, 2016 in Divine Redeemer Catholic Church, 1106 Fort Drive, at 10:00 a.m. Prayers of Final Commendation and Farewell will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., NORTHWOODS CHAPEL, 2180 Greenridge Road, with vigil and rosary beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Donna was born September 6, 1939 in Wichita Falls, TX, daughter of Ernest J. Mundkowski and Athlea Roberts Mundkowski, and grew up on a farm outside of Grandfield, OK. She married James Virgil Rochester, September 11, 1958, and together they had four children. She was an Army wife in Tacoma, WA, Monterrey, CA, Wichita Falls, TX, Norfolk, VA, and Heidelberg, Germany. Donna became a widow May 16, 1974 and entered government service as a secretary in the Department of Defense. Over the course of her career, she became a contracting clerk at Shepherd Air Force Base, TX, a contracting specialist at Little Rock Air Force Base, AR, then a contracting officer at Charleston Air Force Base from which she retired as Director of Contracting January 3, 2008. Donna graduated from Baptist College of Charleston with a Bachelors of Science cum laude in 1983. She was awarded the Small Business Specialist of the Air Force in 1986, the Chairman's Award for Military Airlift Command for Excellence in Contracting in 1989, Charleston Air Force Base Contracting Squadron Civilian of the Year in 2002 and 2003, and Outstanding Civilian of the Year in 2008.
Donna married George Allen Barber, July 4, 1981 and they were married for 33 years.
Throughout her life, Donna was a member of many organizations providing service to the community. She was a faithful member of Divine Redeemer Catholic Church, where she served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer of the Women's Club. She was awarded Divine Redeemer Catholic Woman of the Year twice. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the French Huguenot Society, and the 40 Days for Life Pro-Life Organization, where she served as head of the membership committee and was the Charleston Area Director for several years.
Donna is survived by her children, Cory Wayne Rochester, Tracy Lynn Wentworth, Sandra Marie Rochester, and Terry Scott Rochester; her step-children, Dianne Barber Saltzman, George Allen Barber, Jr., and Thomas Lee Barber; their spouses; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and her two siblings, Patricia Ann Wood, and Ernest Joseph Mundkowski, Jr.
Donna is remembered by many for her warm, giving heart, especially to those most vulnerable: the unborn. She was a friend with a listening heart, always ready to open her door to those in need. She had a prayerful heart in which family and friends take comfort in knowing she acts as an intercessor still.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Divine Redeemer Catholic Church Building Fund, 1106 Fort Drive, Hanahan, SC 29410 and/or the Charleston 40 Days for Life, 4112 East 29th Street, Bryan, TX 77802.