Barbara Jo (Hayden) King, 68, of Topeka, passed away Monday, February 20, 2023.
She was born October 12, 1954 in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Emerson and Shirley (Crabb) Hayden. She graduated from Larned High School in 1972 and attended Barton County Community College.
Barbara was a florist at Burns Floral and later Sam's Club. She also worked at KNI for 10 years.
She was a past member of Red Hat Society and Sunflower Cloggers. She was a current member of Topeka Needlework Guild and for 34 years has been a member of Bitch & Build Craft Group. She made hats for newborns at local hospitals. She was involved in her sons' boy scout troops, and helped at their schools.
On April 10, 1981, she married Robert L. "Bill" King in Topeka. He survives. Other survivors include sons, Rodney King of Wichita and Emerson King of Kansas City; her mother, Shirley Hayden of Topeka; two siblings, Bruce Hayden of Topeka and Sue Hayden Zieman; many nieces and nephews; and a plethora of friends.
She enjoyed researching family genealogy, painting, cake decorating, knitting, crochet, and sewing. She always planned the best birthday and holiday parties and decorated them to the nines. She made many gifts for her family, friends, and friends of family.
Barbara loved the Winfield Bluegrass Festival, and every year since 1981. She also loved attending plays and musical performances.
Upon retirement, she and Bill went on several trips, seeing Washington D.C., Mt. Rushmore, taking the riverboat cruise down the Snake and Columbia rivers to Portland, taking the East Coast Fall Tours in New England, attending Alien Fest in Roswell, and many RV camping trips.
Memorial services will be 11am Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Mid-Town Chapel. Inurnment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice in Barbara's name.
To leave a message for Barbara's family, please visit the guestbook below.
Barbara's service will be livestreamed at the scheduled time.
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