Barbara Ann Malone Diener, born in Cleveland, Tennessee on April 1, 1933, died on January 25, 2021 in Zephyrhills, Florida. Barbara (87) is preceded in death by her parents, Decatur Clark Huff and Gladys Murray Huff, and her sister and brother-in-law, Virginia Jo Atchley and Billy Atchley.

Barbara is survived by her son, Marc Wayne Malone, and his wife Karen Malone, and her daughter, Marcia Malone Dwyer, and her husband, Dan Dwyer. Barbara has four grandchildren, Courtney Wynne Dwyer Satkoski, Lindsey Cole Dwyer, McKenzie Malone, and Cutter Malone, and three great-grandchildren, El Malone Satkoski, Crew Dwyer Satkoski, and Murphy Genson.

Barbara married William Edgar Diener on November 27, 1993 in Dade City, Florida, and gained four step children, David Diener, Dianne LaFever, Dorinda Rife, and Denise Regan, who preceded her in death. Barbara also gained nine step-grandchildren, Derek Diener, Karen Sanchez, Blake LaFever, Grant LaFever, Alexis Rife, Erika Rife, Pat Regan, Sean Regan, and Colleen Regan and five step-great grandchildren, Emily, Zela, Shiloh, Elijah, and Micah.

Barbara was actively involved with her family and never missed a birthday, holiday, wedding, birth, graduation, celebration, or sporting event for any of her children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren. Barbara will be remembered for her love of hosting and decorating for holidays, taking photographs, coloring and reading with grandchildren, singing in the choir, picking out jewelry, and shopping for bargains. Barbara also routinely brought friends and those without local loved ones a Wendys Frosty who were in the hospital or at assisted living facilities, so she could spend time with them and remind them they were remembered and loved. Barbara also enjoyed traveling, sightseeing, writing poems, gardening, sending letters, getting "a bite to eat," looking at photo albums, playing cards, exercising, making her signature chocolate cake, and being active with her family, friends, church, and gardening clubs.

A long time Dade City resident, Barbara was a member of Retired Educators of Pasco County, the Florida Retired Educators Association, the Dade City Garden Club, and a longstanding and active member of her church. Barbara attended the First United Methodist Church of Dade City for over 50 years where she sang in the choir, performed at Church Street Christmas and Easter celebrations, attended weekly bible study, taught Sunday school, assisted with the Logos program, and served on the Pastoral Parish Committee, the Ester Circle, and Altar Guild.

While attending Tennessee Tech, Barbara was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, an organization whose mission is to promote excellence in education and professional growth among women educators, a community she remained active in for a decade post graduation. Barbara was a beloved school teacher for 33.5 years, with nearly 30 of those years being in Dade City. Barbaras love for teaching left an undeniable impact on her colleagues and students, many of whom, many years (or decades later), would see her in town and rush to hug her and tell her the difference she made in their lives. Barbaras patience, jovial spirit, kindness, and belief that all children can be successful was not only evident in how she led her classroom but also in how she gifted her time and love to children at Sunday school, as a substitute teacher and classroom volunteer, and especially within her family. Barbara, contagiously youthful and energetic at heart, could always be found at the "kids table" at family gatherings coloring, reading, playing tea party, or any host of games that kept all of the grand and great-grandchildren enamored and laughing at her goofy jokes and antics. Barbaras success in the classroom was also recognized when she was named Teacher of the Year at Cox Elementary School and was selected as a Pasco County Outstanding Educator in Elementary Education.

Barbara, better known as "GG Barb" our "Grandma Barb," will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and beloved Dade City community but she leaves behind a mountain of memories and a legacy of kindness, family, faith, and teaching excellence.

A private family service will be held at the Hodges Family Funeral Home at 2:00pm on Thursday, January 28, 2021.

In lieu of sending flowers, please send donations in Barbara Dieners name to her church, the First United Methodist Church of Dade City, where she was a member for 50+ years.

First United Methodist Church of Dade City

37628 Church Avenue, Dade City, Florida 33525

(352) 567-5604 and [emailprotected]

Chapel Hill Gardens, Chapel Maudoleum