Barbara Anne Hastings

Barbara Anne Hastings, 84, of Ortley Beach in Toms River, NJ, passed away at home on Monday, December 22, 2025.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, she grew up in Plymouth Meeting, PA, and graduated from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Class of 1958.

Barbara began her career with the federal government at age 18 in Philadelphia and continued in government service for more than 40 years. Her career included positions with NASA at Cape Kennedy, the EPA in Philadelphia, and later at NASA’s Moffett Field in California, where she served as Grants Administrator. She lived for periods in California and Florida before finally retiring to her family’s Vision Beach house in New Jersey. She worked for several churches over the years, eventually joining Union Church in Lavallette, where she served as Administrator and Church Secretary for more than 20 years, until February 2024.

Barbara’s faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior never wavered and brought her great joy. She especially loved Bible Study and singing in the church choir. Her devotion to family was unwavering, and she became the family’s anchor after the passing of her parents—hosting reunions, collecting photographs, and preserving family history. She enjoyed lively conversations about current events, was an avid reader, and cherished her annual girls’ trips with her friends Gwynda and Nancy.

Barbara survived Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and lived in temporary housing at Union Church for more than a year while the North Carolina Baptist Men on Mission rebuilt her home. She also found a second family at Patti’s Kitchen in Normandy Beach, where she regularly enjoyed her “BLT Barb” with an iced tea (with lots of ice!) and delighted in the friendships she formed with the owners, crew, and customers—many of whom jokingly referred to themselves as her “boyfriends.”

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Chester C. Hastings and Anne Coll Hastings; her sister, Linda A. Poper (and husband Charlie, deceased); and her nephew, Greg A. Poper.

She is survived by her brother, Chester “Chet” C. Hastings Jr. (Judi) of Indiana, and their children Jeff (Sara), Matthew (Jillian), Andrea (Greg), and Brian (Saya); her sister, Cindy L. Smith (Brian) of Arkansas, and their children Josh and Hannah (Blake); her niece, Stephanie H. Poper (Greg, deceased) and their children Andrew and Alyssa; and her nephew, Scott Poper, and his daughter Kylie.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, January 8th, for visitation from 10:00–11:00 AM, with a service at 11:00 AM at Union Church of Lavallette, 25 Philadelphia Ave., Lavallette, NJ. A lunch will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
Burial will take place on January 9th at 11AM , at George Washington Memorial Cemetery, 80 Stenton Ave., Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Union Church of Lavallette.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by The Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 706 Grand Central Ave., Lavallette, NJ.

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