Lois Barker

Lois Billett Barker, 94, of Topeka, passed away Sunday, July 8, 2012. She was born December 6, 1917 in Princeton, Franklin County, Kansas to William Leopold and Anna Maude (Kimball) Billett. She attended public schools in Princeton and upon graduation from Princeton High School, attended Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas. While in college she made many lifelong friends, including Helen Foote Conger, Joy Blaycat, Lyman and Gracie Erion Morgan, and Adrian and Ethel Mae Schober Miller. She also met her future husband, Gerald Barker.

After graduation from Ottawa University, she taught in public schools in Bird City and Whitewater, Kansas. She married Gerald Barker in San Francisco in September 1943. Shortly thereafter, Gerald was deployed overseas and Lois returned to Kansas, supporting the war effort by working at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. When Gerald returned from the Pacific at the end of World War II, they moved to Topeka, and remained Topeka residents for the rest of their lives. After Gerald retired from Washburn University, Lois and Gerald enjoyed their retirement years in travel throughout the U.S. and abroad, and winters spent in San Diego.

Lois was active in many Topeka organizations, including PEO, Minerva, United Methodist Women, and the Topeka Association for Retarded Citizens, for which she was a volunteer and then an employee. Lois loved nature, reading, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and had wonderful memories of picnics and other activities with Mert and Betty Wisler, Jim and Noma Wilcoxon, Bob and Mary Briggs, Chuck and Helen Mills, Ad and Ethel Mae Miller, and Chuck and Betty Jo Marling. She was a long time member of first United Methodist Church of Topeka, and was supported by her deep religious faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, and her sister and beloved brother-in-law, Ray and Beth Anderson of Kansas City. She is survived by sons Gregory Barker and William Barker, daughter-in-law Joan Barker, grandchildren Amanda and Kye Barker, and nieces and nephews Gerry Dillaha, Sarah Goalby, Susan Kost, Sally Edwards, Bill Anderson, Alan Van Loenen, Becky Chapman, and Lois Louise Brooksher.

A Memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 3:00PM.

Memorial contributions may be made to TARC, 2701 SW Randolph Ave. Topeka, KS 66611 or First United Methodist Church, 600 SW Topeka Blvd. Topeka, KS 66603.