Barbara Joy Howard Urban, a woman whose life was a beautiful tapestry of love, compassion, and unwavering generosity, passed away at her Fayetteville home on September 20, 2025, at the age of 87. She was surrounded by the family she so dearly cherished.

A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 1 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at Higgins Funeral Home. Pastor Jim Lauria and Howard Urban will officiate. Burial will follow in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, AL. The family will receive friends from 11 AM until the time of service on Tuesday at Higgins Funeral Home.

On May 27, 1960, Barbara married her best friend and the love of her life, Eugene Willard Urban. For 65 years, they were a couple with hearts of gold, committed to serving their community. Together, they built a family that was a true reflection of their spirit: they raised six biological children, adopted two sons with special needs, and lovingly opened their doors to countless foster children and rescued dogs. For 8 years, she lovingly cared for her mother, Nonnie, until her final moments. Barbara’s home was a place of endless welcome and unconditional love, a warm haven for any child who needed one. Her grandchildren knew this best, affectionately calling her home “Grandma’s daycare,” where every hug was a little tighter and every heart was a little fuller.

Barbara’s kindness was not confined to her family. In 1996, the Urban family founded Covenant Manor, an assisted living facility in Fayetteville, a testament to her and Gene’s belief that everyone deserves a safe and caring place to call home. Barbara was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Huntsville and later a member at St. John Presbyterian Church in Park City.

Barbara has now been reunited with the loved ones who passed before her: her beloved husband, Gene Urban; her parents, Fred and Freda Howard; her daughter-in-law, Nicki Urban; her grandson, Samuel Luke Urban; and her brothers, Frederick Francis Howard, and Gordon Howard.

Barbara is survived by a legacy of love carried on by her children: Roxane (Steve) Halburg, Nancy Bult, Susan Urban, Diane (Mark) Richardson, Carl (late Nicki) Urban, Howard (Kate) Urban, Matthew Urban, and Christopher Urban. She will be dearly missed by her grandchildren, Morgan (Jeremy) Lowry, Christy (Ryan) Rutledge, Howie Urban, Jacob Urban, Elaina Urban, Savannah Richardson, Brianna Richardson, Tristyn Urban, Kristofhor Urban, Lavinia Urban, and Evangeline Urban; and her great-granddaughters, Anna Lowry, Avery Lowry, Brylee Nunley, and Ada May Ferguson; and her nieces and nephews, Debbie (Joey) Prince, Alan (Denise) Moseley, Deanna (Mike) Lawrence, Christine Nichols, Tony Howard, and Fred Howard, Jr.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Lincoln County Veterans Warrior Exhibit, 113 Main Avenue N, Fayetteville, TN 37334; the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601; or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.

Higgins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Barbara Joy Howard Urban.