Barbara Adelson Zelle

Monday, May 1, 2017, Barbara Adelson Zelle passed away at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She was 73.

A beloved grandmother, mother, mother-in-law, wife, sister, aunt and cherished friend, she will be missed immensely. Barbara fought bravely and with great dignity for years against cancer, and stayed remarkably positive and joyful. Adored by everyone who knew her, Barbara was a vibrant, active, bright, beautiful and loving woman.

Born Barbara Lynn Ford, Aug. 14, 1943 in Indianapolis, Indiana, she is predeceased by her parents Eileen Campbell Ford (Kessler) and Henry Ford. Raised in Solon, Ohio, she moved to Los Angeles in 1968.

Barbara’s greatest joy was being a grandmother to her four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. Ever present, she rarely missed their sporting events, school functions, fundraisers and recitals. Barbara was one of the Pacific Palisades Baseball Associations biggest supporters, always donating her time and money to the organization.

PPBA Opening Day Pancake Breakfast at the Palisades Park was one of her favorite days of the year. You would often find her the morning of the event flipping pancakes, serving coffee and helping with clean up. Due to her generous personality and loving spirit, Barbara knew countless teammates and parents of the PPBA. Barbara was loved and adored by the parents and the players. You could always find her cheering the teams, encouraging players, working the Bat & Grill on Saturdays and carpooling kids to their games. The PPBA lost one of its biggest fans and supporters.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 18 years, Richard Zelle, her son, B. James Ford and his wife Ashley, daughter Melissa Adelson Robledo and her husband Damian; her stepchildren Ben  (m. Janine) Zelle and Erin Zelle Abrams (m. Mike); her grandchildren Davis and Campbell Ford, Ava and Ryden Robledo, her step-grandchildren Sullivan and Jack Abrams; her siblings Karl (m. Iris) Kessler, Fred (m. Judy) Kessler, and Susan (Kessler) Swink; her nieces and nephews Jennifer, Ashley, Katie, Dan, Sam and Derek.

A celebration of Barbara’s amazing life will be held Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 12 p.m. in the garden of her son’s Pacific Palisades home. Family, friends and loved ones of Barbara and of the family are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara Zelle’s name to the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute.