Barbara Anne Scheel

Barabara Anne Scheel, 73, of Dover, passed from this life peacefully on January 11, 2026, surrounded by family.

Barb was born in Wilmington to the late Clarence (“Jake”) and Janet Scheel. She is survived by: a sister, J. Ellen Scheel; brothers, John Vincent Alexander and Phillip August (Karen) Scheel; nephews, Michael A. (Mary) Scheel and David A. Scheel; niece Jennifer Peacock; and grand nieces and nephews, Meredith and Evan Scheel, and Ben, Max, Abby and Nate Peacock. 

Barb faced and overcame many physical challenges to live a full and joyous life. At a few weeks old, she was found to have a neural tube defect which blocked proper drainage of her cerebral fluid.  

Her parents consulted a Wilmington neurosurgeon who advised that: Barb’s condition was extreme and incurable; she would never develop physically or mentally; she could not live more than a few years; and she would require increasing care. The only rational course was to immediately place this child in an institution. 

Jake and Janet instead made Barb’s future a matter of prayer in their church and among family and friends. They learned that a neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) had designed an implantable shunt to correct this neural tube defect, and he was looking for suitable infant patients. 

Barb had a shunt surgically implanted at CHOP, and it worked. A weekly news publication of that time, “The Saturday Evening Post,” printed Barb’s story and picture, in its November 7, 1953 edition, hailing the new shunt as a major medical breakthrough.

This new medical technology required several more surgeries, some minor and others requiring Barb to relearn how to walk, how to talk, how to feed herself. Her whole family worked on Barb’s rehab, and when she entered First Grade at Claymont Elementary School, she ran, played and learned with the other kids. 

After even more surgeries and rehab, Barb continued learning at a special needs school, John G. Leach, in Wilmington. Barb then moved onto campus at the Maryland School for the Blind near Baltimore and finished high school.

Barb used her energy and skills to enjoy her life and in service to others. With her limited vision, she read the coming Sunday’s hymns and then punched them in Braille for the completely blind members of the congregation. She went to Phillies games, traveled and vacationed with family in the Caribbean, the Rockies, New Orleans and California. 

Barb earned her Associate Degree in Social Services by commuting to Del Tech’s Wilmington Campus. She was recognized as “Volunteer of the Year” by Delaware Curative Workshop in Wilmington. Then she moved to Dover, lived on the Del Tech campus and earned her BA in Social Services. 

When her mother, Janet, entered assisted living, Barb also entered assisted living in Dover. At Pinnacle and at Cadia, Barb used her skills and energy in service to others. She served on the Residents’ Council and gave orientations for new residents. 

Barb loved singing in the church choir. She left us early Sunday morning, January 11th, to join the heavenly chorus and sing with the angels.

There will be a celebration of Barb’s life at Grace Church Dover, 350 McKee Road, Dover, at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2026. 

Letters of condolence may be sent to www.pippinfuneralhome.com

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