In the quiet city of South Bend, Indiana, a long and accomplished life came to a tragic end on February 3, 2018. Barbara J. Korpal Wilmes, an 80-year-old Caucasian female, was found deceased in her home. Her life, which began in South Bend on July 24, 1937, was one marked by diverse achievements and a deep connection to her community.
Barbara was a lifelong resident of the area, a graduate of Central High School, and for thirty-five years, the owner of Greene Electric.
Her ambitions, however, were not confined to her successful business career. She was also a private pilot, a paralegal, and a master gardener, showcasing a wide range of talents and passions. She and her husband, Philip A. Wilmes, had built a life together, having been married on April 4, 1959.
The circumstances surrounding Barbara's death were heartbreaking. Investigations revealed that she died from a gunshot wound in what was determined to be a murder-suicide. The suspect in her death was her 81-year-old husband, Philip, who took his own life after ending hers. At the time of her death, Barbara was living with Alzheimer's disease. As the sole suspect in her death is also deceased, the case is considered closed.
