Barbara “Babs” Niles, 85, passed away peacefully May 25, 2022, at The Chelsea at Shrewsbury. Barbara was born Sept. 30, 1935, on Governor’s Island, New York, to Richard and Helen Moore and grew up in Little Sliver. She was a resident of Lincroft for over 60 years.
She was selfless and kind, with a smile for everyone. She loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally and always claimed they were her greatest accomplishment.
Known as the “Moore Twins,” Barbara and her identical twin Betty were graduates of Red Bank High School. Barbara married Jonathan Niles Jr. in 1955 and they moved to Lincroft where they brought up their two children, Betsy and Jonny.
Divorced in 1975, Babs became a single mom with a house full of teenagers who tested her strength and resiliency. She gave refuge to wayward boys and guided them through adolescence with love and compassion. She faced adversity with grace and grit, never giving up and always giving back.
She worked full time as a dental assistant for Drs. Saltzbart and Kornfeld until their retirement and then for Drs. Rockwell. She retired at 75 after comforting generations of grateful patients with her kind words and gentle touch.
Traveling the world with her mother-in-law she always said it was the people who inspired her, not the places.
Babs enjoyed playing bridge more for the companionship than the competition. However, she always came out on top when the score was added up!
Barbara was predeceased by her sister Betty DeGroot and her parents Richard and Helen Moore. She is survived by her daughter Elizabeth (Betsy) Ford and husband Gunter of Rumson; son Jonathan H. Niles III and wife Cherlyn of Long Branch; her “other son” Michael Sylvester and wife Kristi of Tempe, Arizona; grandchildren, Alexander Ford, Julianna Pedalino and husband Cory, Rebecca Niles and Tim Niles; and great-grandchildren Nathaniel and Anderson Pedalino.
A memorial gathering will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, June 12 at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank, with Words of Remembrance at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Monmouth County Friends of the Parks at friendsofmonmouthcountyparks.com.
The article originally appeared in the June 2 – 8, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
