IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Barbara "Cameo"
Victor
April 23, 2016
Obituary
ELKHART — Barbara "Cameo" Victor, 84, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 23, at The Maples at Waterford Crossing in Goshen.
She was born Oct. 5, 1931, in Detroit, to the late Philip and Kathleen (Grace) Houle.
While an infant, the family moved to Hancock, Mich., where she lived until her high school graduation.
She married A. Bruce Arbogast in 1950. Together, they had four daughters prior to divorcing in 1969. Later in her life, she married James R. "Jim" Victor on Sept. 30, 1995, in Elkhart, who then stood by her side for more than 20 years until her passing.
She is survived by her husband, Jim; four daughters, Beth Montana, Beverly Grace, Babette (Richard) Boling and Belinda (Paul) Bockman; siblings Kathleen Grace and Daniel (Anita) Houle; sisters-in-law Marilyn and Marlene Houle; grandchildren Christina (Scott) Garvey, David (Liz) Misener, Ginger (Richard) Frank, Fiona Clayton, Ashley (Wes) Molyneaux, Whitney (Matt Norton) Boling, Hayley Boling, Mackenzie Boling, Ronisha Beal, John (Petra) Bockman and Mary (Lance) Price; 13 great-grandchildren; a stepson, Jon Victor; three stepdaughters, Tamera Alvarez, Alison Buzzard and Carla Victor and their families; special family friend of nearly six decades, Juanita Smith; and close personal friend Karen Kehr.
Cameo was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Michael, Pete and Philip Houle.
With a keen eye for seeing the natural beauty around her, Cameo enjoyed her life as a talented artist. Upon graduating from Hancock High School, she attended art school in Chicago. She was the former owner and designer of The Guild of Hands Shop on Main and Lexington streets in Elkhart for many years and was a member and past president of the Elkhart Art League. In 1972, she moved to California to study and teach with Arica Institute for 12 years. Her work has been exhibited in California, Florida, Washington, D.C., Chicago, at IUSB and at the Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart. In 1984, Cameo returned to Elkhart to be near her children and grandchildren. She established Cameo Portraits, an art studio in downtown Elkhart, and attended IUSB, where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1991 and then a master's degree in counseling in 1994 at the age of 62. After graduating with honors, she worked as an art therapist for Madison Center in South Bend.
Cameo was a dedicated "Gramma Barb" to her grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with her very active family. She was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Elkhart and remained a member of the Midwest Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian Institute, Fernwood Nature Preserve, Isle Royale National Park, Art Institute of Chicago and was a devoted member of Venerable Wuling's Buddhist Study Group in Elkhart for many years. Cameo loved children, art, theater, live music, cooking, gardening, reading and walking in unspoiled nature parks.
A celebration of Cameo's life will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, with fellowship and refreshments starting at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1732 Garden St., Elkhart.
As per Cameo's wishes, cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the church or the Elkhart Education Foundation, 2746 Old U.S. 20 W. Elkhart, IN 46514; or visit OneCityOneMission.org to share a donation online.
To share a memory or condolence of Cameo to her family, please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Billings Funeral Home, Elkhart.
She was born Oct. 5, 1931, in Detroit, to the late Philip and Kathleen (Grace) Houle.
While an infant, the family moved to Hancock, Mich., where she lived until her high school graduation.
She married A. Bruce Arbogast in 1950. Together, they had four daughters prior to divorcing in 1969. Later in her life, she married James R. "Jim" Victor on Sept. 30, 1995, in Elkhart, who then stood by her side for more than 20 years until her passing.
She is survived by her husband, Jim; four daughters, Beth Montana, Beverly Grace, Babette (Richard) Boling and Belinda (Paul) Bockman; siblings Kathleen Grace and Daniel (Anita) Houle; sisters-in-law Marilyn and Marlene Houle; grandchildren Christina (Scott) Garvey, David (Liz) Misener, Ginger (Richard) Frank, Fiona Clayton, Ashley (Wes) Molyneaux, Whitney (Matt Norton) Boling, Hayley Boling, Mackenzie Boling, Ronisha Beal, John (Petra) Bockman and Mary (Lance) Price; 13 great-grandchildren; a stepson, Jon Victor; three stepdaughters, Tamera Alvarez, Alison Buzzard and Carla Victor and their families; special family friend of nearly six decades, Juanita Smith; and close personal friend Karen Kehr.
Cameo was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Michael, Pete and Philip Houle.
With a keen eye for seeing the natural beauty around her, Cameo enjoyed her life as a talented artist. Upon graduating from Hancock High School, she attended art school in Chicago. She was the former owner and designer of The Guild of Hands Shop on Main and Lexington streets in Elkhart for many years and was a member and past president of the Elkhart Art League. In 1972, she moved to California to study and teach with Arica Institute for 12 years. Her work has been exhibited in California, Florida, Washington, D.C., Chicago, at IUSB and at the Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart. In 1984, Cameo returned to Elkhart to be near her children and grandchildren. She established Cameo Portraits, an art studio in downtown Elkhart, and attended IUSB, where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1991 and then a master's degree in counseling in 1994 at the age of 62. After graduating with honors, she worked as an art therapist for Madison Center in South Bend.
Cameo was a dedicated "Gramma Barb" to her grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with her very active family. She was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Elkhart and remained a member of the Midwest Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian Institute, Fernwood Nature Preserve, Isle Royale National Park, Art Institute of Chicago and was a devoted member of Venerable Wuling's Buddhist Study Group in Elkhart for many years. Cameo loved children, art, theater, live music, cooking, gardening, reading and walking in unspoiled nature parks.
A celebration of Cameo's life will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, with fellowship and refreshments starting at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1732 Garden St., Elkhart.
As per Cameo's wishes, cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the church or the Elkhart Education Foundation, 2746 Old U.S. 20 W. Elkhart, IN 46514; or visit OneCityOneMission.org to share a donation online.
To share a memory or condolence of Cameo to her family, please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Billings Funeral Home, Elkhart.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Barbara "Cameo" Victor, please visit our flower store.
Services
Visitation
May
1
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart
12:30 - 2:00 pm
Celebration Of Life Service
May
1
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart
Starts at 2:00 pm