Thelma Annette Barr, 94, formerly of Lee’s Summit, MO. passed away in the early morning hours of May 15, 2024, at the Ignite Retirement Resort in Blue Springs, MO. Thelma was born December 18, 1929 in Bristol, TN. She was the 2nd child and oldest daughter born to Airy Newell Leonard and Burnice B. (Millsap) Leonard.
The Leonard family moved from Tennessee to Hope, Indiana, in 1936 where Thelma graduated from Hope High School. She then attended Sullins Women’s College in Bristol, Virginia. Upon returning to Indiana, she met and married Kenneth Leon Barr on February 8, 1950. He preceded her in death on December 31, 2019. After her marriage, Thelma began teaching in Indiana, and worked towards completing her degree at Purdue University.
In 1956 Thelma and Kenneth with their three children moved from Indiana to the Kansas City, MO. area. Thelma became an elementary teacher in Hickman Mills, MO. and graduated with a B.S. degree at Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg, KS. Later she received a M.S. degree from the Central Missouri at Warrensburg. She retired from the Hickman Mills district in 1994 and received special recognition for her years of exemplary teaching.
Thelma and Kenneth with their children loved to travel, camp, water, and snow ski together. In later years the grandchildren enjoyed two weeks every summer traveling with them to see America and creating strong family ties. Kenneth and Thelma traveled to all fifty states in the U.S. as well as to Canada, Mexico, and most of Europe. They spent several winters on South Padre Island, TX. Thelma and Kenneth were active in the Lee's Summit United Methodist Church until health issues made it too difficult to attend.
Surviving are three children, Darrell Barr (Carolyn) rural Girard, KS., Janette [Jerry] Bollinger, Blue Springs, MO., and Kenneth Eugene Barr (Belinda, deceased) Oyster Creek, TX., five grandchildren, Margaret Annette "Ann" Lee (Jason) Pittsburg, KS., Wayne Barr (Karen) Webb City, MO., Christopher Bollinger (Heather), Parkville, MO., Jennifer Coffman (Steve), Springfield, MO., and Erica Barr, Lee's Summit, MO., eight great-grandchildren, Adam and Kelsey Lee, Aleczander and Isabelle Coffman, Reagan and Jacob Bollinger, and Ruby and Elijah Barr. Also surviving are brothers, David Leonard (Oak Grove, MO.), Rufus Leonard (Bloomfield, NM.), and one sister, Elvalee Winburn (Weston, MO.)
Besides her husband and parents, Thelma was preceded in death by five siblings, Audery Leonard (Hilmar, CA.), Martha Jane (Janie) Hiller (McCune, KS.), Margaret (Brownie) Hartman (Uniontown, KS.), Amos Leonard (Girard, KS.), and Lucille Romig (Lee's Summit, MO.)
A graveside service will be held August 3, 2024 at the Osage Brethren Cemetery, 852 South 87th Street, McCune, KS at 11:00 am. Lunch will be served following the service at the Osage Church, 794 West 540th Avenue, McCune, KS. Memorials are suggested to the Osage Church Memorial Park or to Ascend Hospice, 783 NE. Anderson Lane, Lee's Summit, MO. who provided excellent care for Thelma with love and compassion during her final days. Cremation was handled by Heartland Cremation.
