Barbara Elsie Skinner, daughter of Martin John (1884-1972) and Ilda (Bera) (1892-1957) Skinner, was born 1 February 1925 Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.  She graduated in 1943 from Okemos High School.  Barbara married Glenn Franklin Fender 31 August 1945 East Lansing, Ingham County.  Glenn, a World War II Navy veteran, was born 20 July 1923.  The couple had four children.  Glenn died in a house fire 26 May 1974.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 27 May 1974

HOUSE FIRE KILLS MAN

An early morning house fire near Laingsburg Sunday claimed the life of a 50-year-old man, and sent his wife and son to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Glenn F. Fender, 7911 Round Lake Road, perished in the blaze of his home about 3:15 a.m. Sunday.  By the time the Laingsburg Fire Department responded to the call, the house was engulfed in flames.

Firemen were able to rescue Fender's wife, Barbara, an invalid, and their 25-yer-old son, Edwin.

Laingsburg Fire Chief Don Corp, who was the first to arrive at the scene, said he found Fender collapsed in the kitchen near the phone which he had used to call the fire department.  Fender died from excessive smoke inhalation.

"The best we can determine, the fire was caused by a faulty furnace in the basement that overheated, and started the rafters on fire," Corp said.

The two-story frame house was described as "a total loss" by Corp, with damage estimated to be about $20,000.

Mrs. Fender is listed in fair condition in a local hospital.

Mr. Fender was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving in the United States Navy.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two sons, Edwin and Michael of Laingsburg; two daughters, Mrs. Martha Staples of Byron, Ga., and Marie Fender of Laingsburg; his mother, Jennie Bundage of Lansing; and a brother, Richard, of Sunfield.

Services will be held Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. in the McDougall Funeral Home.

Barbara died 15 July 1995 Ingham County.  Barbara and Glenn were interred East Sebewa Cemetery, Ionia County, Michigan.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Tuesday 18 July 1995

Laingsburg

Fender, Barbara Elsie, 73, died Monday.  Arrangements by Nelson House Funeral Home, Laingsburg.