Barbara Allyn Grasher Schroeder Howard

Barbara Grasher Howard, also known as Barbara Schroeder, Barbie, Bag, and to the very fortunate, Mom, or Grammy, passed away on June 18, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana. As the daughter of an Air Force pilot, Barbara’s youth was nomadic, bouncing from one state to another and adding a new brother or sister in each new hometown. The family's travels ended tragically when her father was lost in a midair collision near Evreux, France.  As the oldest of 5 kids, 8 year old Barbie stepped up to help her widowed mother look after her siblings.  She took to the role of second mother naturally.  After France, the Grashers put down roots in Fort Worth, Texas where she attended Nolan Catholic High School.

Barbara attended the University of Nebraska as a freshman, and became loyal fan of Cornhusker football despite leaving Lincoln before graduating to become a flight attendant with Braniff Airlines. While living in Kansas City, Barb met Bill Schroeder, and they married in 1970 and began a love affair and friendship that lasted for decades. Barb and Bill started their family in Kansas City as they welcomed son Jeffrey in 1972 and then moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma where their family grew again as Barb gave birth to second son Andrew and daughter Jillian.

Barb grudgingly moved north in 1978 when Bill's work took him to Indianapolis. Though her thin Texas blood never fully acclimated to the climate, Indianapolis became Barb's adult home as she devoted herself to raising her children. Being a Mom was Barb's highest calling and no one ever enjoyed their children as much as she did, finding everything they did funny, charming, or forgivable.  Despite her love for her children, it wasn't her full identity.  She went back to college, graduating from IU Indianapolis with a communications degree in 1987. Her career took her first into PR at the Indianapolis Airport, then to series of roles with Charles Schwab as a stock broker.  Barb rose to become a branch manager, leading teams in Evansville, Indiana and Port Charlotte, Florida.

The draw of family brought her back to Indianapolis as her children began families of their own.  She walked away from a successful career without ever looking back as her life's purpose again shifted and she became Grammy. Each of her eight grandchildren delighted her in unique ways, and she viewed them as the vehicles through which her DNA will go marching into the future.

Outside of work and family, Barbara was a socially conscious advocate for any among us who were marginalized. In 1976, she worked on Jimmy Carter's campaign and caucused for him in Oklahoma. Barb became a leader with La Leche League, and supported hundreds of mothers and babies at the start of life. This work was her way of fostering the kind of loving connection that she felt could change the world one family at a time. She continued to actively advocate for and support causes she believed in until she died.

Barbara is survived by her three beloved children and their spouses: son Jeff and his wife Stephanie Schroeder, son Andy and his wife Aly Schroeder, and daughter Jillian and her husband Shawn Pierce. She is also survived by sisters Ellen McNees and Martha Bubel, and brothers Chris Grasher and Jon Grasher. Barbara leaves eight grandchildren who are charged with carrying her love and laughter forward, Jackson, Charlie, and Paige Schroeder, Maddie and Molly Schroeder, and Violet, Sullivan, and William Pierce. Each of them has been imprinted with the values and passion for life that Barbara instilled in them.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William David Schroeder, and her parents, Howard and Ruth Grasher, and brother Howie Grasher. She carried each of them in her heart every day she was on earth and will surely be delighted reunite with them in the next place.

A visitation will be held in memory of Barbara on June 25, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, followed by a memorial service that will commence at 4:00 PM, both taking place at Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary located at 11411 N Michigan Rd, Carmel, IN 46077. A joyous celebration of life will follow at The Anchor, 9345 Delegates Row, Indianapolis, IN 46240.

In lieu of flowers, the family would invite people to contribute to the ACLU, WFYI or your local public radio or television station.