Leila Joan Barnhart

Leila Joan Barnhart, 89, of Beallsville, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 22, 2024, at the Donnell House in Washington, with family by her side, after a brief stay in the hospital. Leila was born January 31,1935 to the late Elizabeth R. Huffman and Charles F. Pettit. She grew up in Greene County, where she had to quit school to help raise her siblings, the late Charles J. Pettit, the late Daniel “Danny” Pettit, and Terry Pettit, who survives. In 1953, she married the late Charles W. Barnhart, the father of her three children, Randy Glenn Barnhart, the late William “Bill” Barnhart, and Lisa Ann Barnhart, with whom she resided. For much of her life, she was a homemaker, having held just two jobs, Herds Drug Store, and Matt Gusic’s House of Steaks, now known as Rinky Dinks Roadhouse. After a divorce, she took on the harshest, most important non-paying job she ever had, raising her children, basically on her own. Once she became a mom, her life revolved around her children’s activities, Randy’s Little League baseball games, Bill’s car shows, and Lisa’s baton twirling events, such as competitions, parades, and recitals. She lived in Prosperity, Lone Pine, and Richeyville for nearly a quarter century where all the neighbors knew of Bill’s beautiful ’57 Chevy truck with the flames he painted himself. Later in life, she enjoyed the “Days of our Lives” soap opera for years, as well as some game shows she and Bill would play along with together: “Jeopardy”, “Wheel of Fortune”, and “Family Feud”. In recent years, she rarely missed an episode of “Dancing with the Stars” and “America’s Got Talent” where she might see a twirler here and there, reminding her of her daughter. Surviving, in addition to her son, daughter, and one brother, are several nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; two grandchildren, Heather and Breann; as well as great-grandchildren. She always took pride in her children’s accomplishments whether it was Randy’s home runs, serving his country in the Army, and getting injured in the line of duty in the process; Bill’s artistic and creative talents, and the ability to fix anything broken, usually by Randy; and Lisa making the honor roll and bringing home trophies. She would offer advice, encouragement, wisdom, and support. For that we thank her. She will be sorely and sadly missed. Friends and family will be received from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. Thursday, July 25, 2024, in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, with Funeral Service to follow at 1p.m. Interment will follow at Washington Cemetery with a service at 1:45p.m.