Barbara Jean (Winters) Perry

Barbara Jean (Winters) Perry, 86, of Topeka, Kansas passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2024. She was born January 7, 1938 in Lawrence, Kansas, the daughter of Charles and Gladys Winters.

Barbara lived most of her life in Lawrence and Topeka. She was a member of Bethel Community Church. She and her husband, Gene were very active at Bethel, where Gene was a pastor for several years. Barbara wanted to stay behind the scenes, but was a driving force in seeing residents in many care facilities, church potlucks, and Bible studies. She loved to visit and sit with people sick and in the hospital to comfort and pray with them. She always made crafts and baked food for any family or person who needed support. Barbara would give Bibles away to people who didn’t have the money to buy them. She was an amazing cook, documenting many of her recipes for her kids to keep. She was a hard worker that always stayed up late making sure everything was washed and ironed for the next day for Gene and the kids. She always got up early and had breakfast on the table too. The family always marveled at the way she ran on such little sleep.

Barbara always attended every sporting or school event that her kids were in, keeping many albums of newspaper clippings that featured her kids. She also loved her KU Jayhawks. It was an offensive that Jessi never lived down when she decided to become the first Wildcat in the family. In later years the first thing she would ask was, what have the grandkids and great-grandkids been doing? She would make them crafts and send them treats for many occasions. (You can ask Tyler how many trips he made to the post office). Barbara was so blessed to have her massage therapist in Misty. Barbara would always say how good of a job she did. She was so proud of Mark Jr. for his service in the Marines, and how Zach would call her all the time to check on her. Then there was Luke who helped Carol and Ray take care of all her medical needs and was always there for questions or concerns. Barbara loved people and would drop anything to help someone needing assistance and that is exactly what she taught all the kids and grandkids that helped her so many times over her life. Barbara loved you all so much.

Barbara really didn’t like water at all, but she was brave enough to take a sunset cruise in Panama City Beach one time. She did say “God made some beautiful sunsets, but I’m going to watch them from the shore from now on.”

Barbara loved the Lord and she wanted everyone to know that Jesus is always there for anyone who asks. Even in the last week prior to her death, she was attending Bible study. She said don’t feel sorry for me, I am dancing with Jesus and you can too, I will be looking for you when you get here.

Barbara married Willard “Gene” Perry on May 26, 1956 in Lawrence, Kansas. He preceded her in death on October 2, 2008. Also preceding her in death are children, Lynda Powell and Mark Perry.

Surviving are her son, Mike (Patty) Perry of St. Mary’s, Georgia, her bonus children, Jim and Katy Powell of Topeka, Carol and Ray Lumb of Topeka, and Gina Perry of Wichita, Kansas, six grandchildren: Misty Perry & Chris Dolby of Kansas City, Jessica & Josh Horton of Topeka, Zach Powell of Topeka, Mark Perry Jr. of Topeka, Luke & Lacy Perry of Detroit, Michigan, Tyler and Kristen Powell of Topeka, and seven bonus grandchildren: Mike and Ale Young of Fernandina Beach, Flordia, Joe and Michelle Walsh of St. Mary’s, Georgia, Steven Sainz of St. Mary’s, Georgia, Gabe and Sarah Sainz of Austin,Texas, Nicole Pultz of Topeka, and fifteen great-grandchildren: Grace and Maddy Powell, Lucca and Oliver Horton, Noah and Eleanora Perry, Willow and Chance Perry, Liam and Nora Francis, Asher and Porter Young, Joey Walsh, Autumn and Summer Pultz.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August, 2, 2024 at Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave. where the family will receive friends from 10:00 am until service time. Graveside committal services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, 93rd and Ratner Rd. near Berryton, Kansas.

We would like to say a special Thank you to Bruce Ferguson and Joe Little for all the time and effort they gave Gene and Barbara during their lifetimes for their welfare.

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