Wanda Beaudette Barnes

Wanda Beaudette Barnes, 89, of Lawrence, passed away Sunday, May 8, 2016.

She was born February 26, 1927, in Fort Dodge, Kansas, the daughter of Earl and Viola (Rea) Myer. She graduated from Dodge City Sr. High School. She began work with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in Dodge City, later transferring to Wellington, Kansas for 9 years and in 1966, she moved to Topeka where she was a PBX Operator at the railway for 34 years, retiring in 1985.

She was a member of Dodge City 1st Presbyterian Church, Wellington United Presbyterian Church and Topeka Central Presbyterian Church. She was an Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School. Other memberships were Order of the Eastern Star Phoenix Chapter in Wellington and Order of the Eastern Star Beulah Chapter #34 in Topeka. She was an avid bowler and on a bowling league in Wellington.

On June 9, she married Robert A. Beaudette in Dodge City. He preceded her in death in July of 1952. On March 15, 1970 she married Loren R. Barnes in Topeka, Kansas. He preceded her in death in January of 1994. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Deane, Don, Isola & Ira Myer.
Survivors include her children, Bruce (Marie) Beaudette, Georgetown, TX; Barbara (Jeffery) Stempien, Fredericksburg, VA and Earl (Cristal) Barnes, Lawrence, KS; seven grandchildren, Kristy (Dave) Gilchrist, Shannon (Paul) Ross, Tim Stempien, Laura (Shilo) Stempien-Keihn, Holly (Greg) Stone, Emily (Joe) Maxwell and Cayman Barnes and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 11:00 am, Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Central Presbyterian Church, 920 SW Huntoon, Topeka. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Wanda will lie in state Friday at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sheltered Living, Inc. 2044 SW Fillmore Avenue, Topeka, KS 66604 or charity of the donor's choice.