Barbara Ann (Howard) Wright, 94, of Cockeysville, MD, passed peacefully on Monday, December 18, 2023 with family around her.

Barbara, who was later nicknamed Bobbie by a friend, was born in Marion, North Carolina on January 13, 1929, to Mary Olive Tate and William Bernard Howard. Both of Bobbie's parents and both sets of her grandparents were also born in North Carolina.

Bobbie is predeceased by her older sister, Frances Parrish, grandson,  Adam Klank, and son, Terry Wright. She is survived and cherished by two sons, Lee Steelwright and his wife, Deborah, and Chip Klank and his wife, Brenda; two granddaughters, Katelyn Freundlich and her husband, David, and Emily Klank; and a great grand dog, Olive. Bobbie, or Mama Wright as her grandchildren and many others fondly called her, will always be remembered and loved by many friends and anyone who had the pleasure to meet her.

Bobbie had a wonderful childhood, playing with both her sister and cousin, Martha, during summers at her maternal grandparents farm and her paternal grandparents hotel, in town. She told us stories of swimming in the river; milking cows, of which she said she wasn't ever as good as Martha was; picking and eating as many cherries and other fruits off the trees as they could hold; finding and thumping on watermelons warm in the fields to see if they were ripe; and eating their fill of all the fresh goodies. Her grandmother treated them to fresh baked fruit pies and cakes and canned everything that could be canned.

When WW II began, Bobbie's parents moved up to Baltimore, where they later divorced and her mom remarried, Lou Camden. Bobbie and her sister followed a few years later, after finishing high school, in Knoxville, where they lived with their grandparents. After moving to Baltimore, Bobbie met Leroy Clayton Wright (Roy) and they married in 1945 when she was 18. Her first son, Lee, was born when she was almost 20, and their second son, Terry, came along two years later. Sadly, their marriage was not long lasting and they divorced when the boys were young. Bobbie later met Richard Klank (Dick) and they married in 1961 and welcomed a third son, Sterling (Chip).

Bobbie worked as a clerk for Donnelly Yellow Pages, for 34 years, and after leaving there, she began her 27 years of providing childcare for many families, in their own homes, until well into her 80s. She loved those families and children dearly and taught them nursery rhymes, sang songs, read books, and played games with them. She helped with laundry and insisted on making all their beds and doing other small helpful tasks, unasked of her, in helping the households run.

Bobbie was an avid reader of the newspaper, books, and several magazines, often cutting out articles of interest for her family. She loved reading the Sunday Baltimore Sun from the first to the last page; the sports pages, and every other section included. She was interested in everything and could tell you facts about almost any famous person or subject. Her family always joked that she would win on a game show. In her 80's and 90's she learned to use a smart phone and tablet, enjoying ebooks and bringing smiles to family and friends with her frequent texts filled with uplifting emojis and gif images. Bobbie was also a big Ravens Fan. She watched football at home, often texting with David, Lee, and family friend Steve, about the games.

Dressing well and finding bargains and great sales on clothing and jewelry were her forte. She was very proud of coordinating her outfits and colors every day. Her favorite color was green, but she wore a lot of purple, yellow, and other bright colors and patterns.

Bobbie loved going to the movies, especially the theaters with the best popcorn. She knew all the movie stars and many facts about them. She also loved to go out to eat, getting carry out, and especially southern cooking.

Sunny days were her favorite. She loved to tell you when the sun would rise and set and was most happy when the longer daylight hours were in season.

Bobbie was fiercely independent, drove her own car until age 93, and lived in her own apartment until just last week. She loved being with her family for gatherings and celebrations. Her smile and happy outlook on life was contagious. Please help us in honoring the legacy of this amazing woman by cherishing and appreciating all the things in life, no matter how small.

The family will receive friends at Peaceful Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Center, P.A.  2325 York Road Timonium, Maryland 21093 on Saturday, December 23, 2023 from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM where Rev. Stephen Propalis will officiate a Funeral Service beginning at 12:00 PM. Internment will be private.