Barbara Sandling, Raleigh, N.C.

Barbara Maxine Sandling, 88, Raleigh, N.C., formerly of Mitchell, died Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at her home in Raleigh, N.C.

She was born June 21, 1924.

She will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery alongside her husband. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Maxine was born in Mitchell. She was the daughter of Peter and Minnie Fixmer. A talented acrobat and dancer by age 10, she won first place 30 times in local talent competitions and was teaching acrobatics and tap dancing before she graduated from high school.

After marrying career Naval officer Joseph D. Sandling in 1942, she devoted herself to raising their three children while living in Virginia, New York and North Carolina.

In Greensboro, she was “the voice of Sears” as the first WATS line operator for the company’s catalog sales. After moving to Raleigh in 1962, she expressed her love of flowers and her artistic talent through the unique silk floral arrangements she made for The Patio, The Galleria and private clients. She was a founder of the Oak Park Garden Club and its first president.

Fun loving and energetic, she enjoyed craft projects, shopping at flea markets and supplying family and friends with home decoration.

Maxine was predeceased by her husband and a brother, Kenneth M. Fixmer, of Stillwater, Minn.

She is survived by her son, Joseph D. Sandling II (Elizabeth) of Raleigh; daughters Sharon (Tom) Freeburg, of Saint Charles, Ill., and Barbara (Ashley) Morris, of Newport, Tenn.; as well as granddaughter Erin (Scott) Woods, of Newport; and great-granddaughters Addison and Ava Woods.

Tags: obituaries, mitchell

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