In Memoriam: Little Silver-Raised Longtime Lincroft Resident, Barbara ‘Babs’ Niles, 85

Little Silver-raised longtime Lincroft resident, Barbara “Babs” Niles passed away peacefully on May 25 at The Chelsea in Shrewsbury. She was 85.

A Lincroft (section of Middletown) resident for more than 60 years, Barbara grew up in Little Sliver.

Barbara Niles
Photo/family via Thompson Memorial Home

“She was selfless and kind, with a smile for everyone. She loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally and always claimed they were her greatest accomplishment. Known as the ‘Moore Twins,’ Barbara and her identical twin Betty were graduates of Red Bank High School. Barbara married Jonathan Niles Jr. in 1955 and moved to Lincroft where they brought up their two children, Betsy, and Jonny. Divorced in 1975, Babs became a single mom with a house full of teenagers who tested her strength and resiliency. She gave refuge to wayward boys and guided them through adolescence with love and compassion. She faced adversity with grace and grit, never giving up and always giving back. She worked full time as a dental assistant for Drs. Saltzbart and Kornfeld until their retirement and then for Drs. Rockwell. She retired at 75, after comforting generations of grateful patients with her kind words and gentle touch. Traveling the world with her mother-in-law she always said it was the people who inspired her, not the places. Babs enjoyed playing bridge more for the companionship than the competition. However, she always came out on top when the score was added up!”

Loved ones of Barbara Niles in her obituary

Barbara is predeceased by her sister Betty DeGroot and her parents Richard and Helen Moore.

She is survived by: her daughter, Elizabeth (Betsy) Ford and husband Gunter, of Rumson; son, Jonathan H. Niles III and wife Cherlyn, of Long Branch; her “other son,” Michael Sylvester and wife Kristi, of Tempe, AZ; grandchildren, Alexander Ford, Julianna Pedalino and husband Cory, Rebecca Niles, and Tim Niles; great grandchildren, Nathaniel and Anderson Pedalino.

A memorial gathering will be held at Thompson Memorial Home on Sunday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to noon with Words of Remembrance at 11:30. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Monmouth County Friends of the Parks

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home