Barbara was born January 24, 1938 to Henry James Fillenwarth Sr. and Catherine Mary Dierkers. She was the 5th of 8 children.

Barbara was baptized at Holy Cross Catholic Church in February 1938. Her Godfather was her uncle, Frank Metzler, and her Godmother was her aunt, Ruth Winkler. She received her first communion at Holy Cross and she was confirmed by Bishop Elmer Ritter. She began grade school at Holy Cross grade school. As her illness got worse she was transferred to Theodore Potter School, an IPS school for children with physical difficulties.

She had nephritis, a kidney ailment, for about two years before she died. During that period of time she slowly lost energy and finally her kidneys just gave out and she died. Because of the inability of her system to remove water from her body she looked puffy a good deal of the time. She died at St. Vincent Hospital at 11:30 p.m. on November 3, 1949. She had received the last sacrament from Fr Thomas Kinnevey just before going to the hospital. Her wake was held at her home, 1601 E. Michigan Street. There were many relatives stayed the night and many policemen friends of her father visited during all the hours she was there. Her funeral was at Holy Cross Catholic Church.

Throughout her many difficulties she was always cheerful. She was truly a joy to her family. A smile was on her face even when she was feeling her worst. She seldom complained and loved going to school. She looked forward, each morning, to the taxi that transported her to school in her last couple years of life.