Mrs. Barbara Jean Braden, Greenwood, passed away on the early afternoon of Thursday, February 4, 2021. She was 94. Barbara was born December 27, 1926 in Indianapolis, Indiana a daughter of the late James H. and Mildred (Kemp) Montgomery.

Barbara attended Butler University where she earned her Bachelor's degree in 1950 and then graduated from Indiana University with her Masters degree in Education and ultimately completed her graduate studies at the University of Indianapolis. She had been a resident of Indianapolis for most of her life until she and her late husband Carl "Blackie" Braden moved to Morgantown, Indiana in 1980. Then in 2000, she moved to Greenwood where she lived the rest of her life.

Barbara was a first grade teacher at Clinton Young Elementary School in Perry Township for 30 years. After she retired in 1989, she volunteered at Perry Township for several years following her retirement. Before beginning her career in teaching, Barbara worked for the William H. Block Department Store from 1947 until 1957 as a fashion model. She also had done free-lance modeling in Indiana and for various fashion houses in St. Louis, Missouri.

Barbara was a member of the National Education Association, Delta Delta Delta sorority, The Indianapolis Symphony Society - South Group, The Children's Guardian Home, The National Honoraries of Radio and Speech as well as the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle.

She is survived by her sons, Dr. Bradford C. (Sylvia) Braden and Barton K. (Lynn) Braden and her grandchildren, Gillian Harris and Blake Braden.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in passing by her husband, Carl "Blackie" Braden, an inductee of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame; her son, Carl Braden, Jr. as well as her sister, Charlene Milan.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am, Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Greenwood. Entombment will follow at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services Tuesday at the funeral home.

For those choosing to make a memorial contribution, the family has suggested those be offered to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, 408 Trojan Lane; New Castle, IN 47362.

The safety of our families and guests is of our utmost priority. We ask that facial coverings be worn and social distancing be practiced. In keeping with the Governor's mandate, attendance will be limited to 25 people. We also respectfully ask that if you are feeling any symptoms of illness, please do not attend.