COLUMBUS
Diana Brown Barksdale, 83, died peacefully Friday morning, Nov. 11, 2022, while she slept in her home in Columbus, Indiana. She had been in slowly declining health over the past year. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Gary Trent Barksdale, D.D.S. Both were natives of Paoli, Indiana. Diana was a Christian who had an unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She was active in Bible studies, read her Bible regularly and knew of the importance of prayer. She had a quiet, calming spirit when sharing her faith or talking about God’s Word. She had a green thumb, too. She enjoyed growing numerous vegetables and cultivating beautiful flower beds at her in home. She was skilled at playing bridge and other card games. At Christmastime, her extended family enjoyed her homemade fudge, persimmon pudding and lasagna for get-togethers. Diana was born on Aug. 1, 1939, to the parents of Phil and Mary Louise Brown of Paoli, Indiana. They have preceded her in death. Diana was the eldest of three daughters. Gary and Diana Barksdale were high school sweethearts in Paoli, Indiana, graduating in the class of 1957. Together, they attended Indiana University at Bloomington. When they married in 1960, she began working as an office assistant while her husband finished his schooling. They moved to Columbus, Indiana, in 1966. Diana was a homemaker, helping raise their two children. In the 1980s, she worked for her husband, managing the dental office. Diana is survived by her daughter, Amy Lacy and her husband, Greg in Columbus, Indiana, her son Andrew Barksdale in Raleigh, North Carolina, and her granddaughter, Andrea Lacy in Columbus, Indiana. Other survivors include her sisters Becky Compton and her husband, Pete, in Ludington, Michigan, and Janet Powell and her husband, Edward, in Paoli, Indiana, plus several cousins, nieces and nephews. In lieu of holding a funeral service, the family will have a Celebration of Life that will be scheduled in 2023.
