Barbara Jean Bissland's Obituary
Barbara Jean Bissland (nee Gregory) of Willingboro, NJ, passed away on Tuesday, March 4th, 2025, at the age of 94. Barbara is reunited in death with her loving husband, mother and father, sister, two brothers, and three children.
Born to the late Fred and Ida (nee Johnson) Gregory on October 15th, 1930, in Port Huron, Michigan. Growing up, Barbara attended Rocky River High School in Rocky River, Ohio as the graduating class of 1948. After high school, she joined her sister on a double date, where she met the love of her life, the late Lieutenant Colonel Alexander C. Bissland (1979). At the time of meeting, Lt. Col. Bissland was only known to Barbara as Alexander as he was getting ready to join the Air Force. Barbara knew that this was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with and was prepared to stand by his side every step of the way. The pair spent their time going out dancing together and driving in Alexander’s convertible to the drive-in movie theater. When it was time for Alexander to attend basic training in 1952, they kept in touch with handwritten letters. In 1953, the couple married and spent a loving 26 years together before Alexander’s passing. Lt. Col. Bissland started his career as a Navigator for the Air Force, causing him to travel and be away from his family for extended periods of time, but Barbara faithfully stuck by his side. Lt. Col. Bissland was relocated to RAF Molesworth in England shortly after their marriage, and at the age of 22, Barbara boarded a boat in New York to join him overseas.
While in England, the couple decided to start a family where they welcomed their first three loving children into this world, Alexander (Pamela) Bissland Jr., the late Deborah Griffin (2000), and the late Thomas Bissland (1957). Upon returning to the USA they welcomed three more loving children Richard (Diane) Bissland, Ronald (Deborah) Bissland, and the late Charis Liberatore (2017). As a mom, Barbara was heavily involved in her children’s lives. She supported them through school, helped them adapt to moves from England to the USA, to Japan and back to The States. Her children fondly remember their family vacations to Hawaii, Disneyland, and their cross-country roadtrip from California to New Jersey. As her children started families of their own, Barbara became the grandmother and great-grandmother of many loving grand and great-grandchildren.
While on base, Barbara was a part of the Officer’s Wives Club where she extended her kindness and compassion to the community on base. In her spare time, Barbara loved reading romance novels, cooking for her family her famous Cream Chipped Beef and Goulash, and attended Bible Study at Open Bible Baptist Church in Riverside, NJ.
Barbara will be remembered fondly for her kindness, adaptability, and her compassion for those around her.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Barbara’s viewing on Thursday, March 13th, 2025, from 11am – 12pm, followed by a funeral ceremony at 12pm in Givnish Funeral Homes, located at 1200 Rt. 130 N, Cinnaminson, NJ, 08077. Barbara will be reunited with her love, Lt. Col. Alexander Bissland, at Lakeview Memorial Park immediately following the ceremony.
What’s your fondest memory of Barbara?
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Share a story where Barbara's kindness touched your heart.
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