Ona Corrine Barber

Ona Corrine Barber was born October 25, 1921, in the country home of her grandparents near Natoma, Kansas and died April 3, 2014 at the Stanton County Memorial Living Center in Johnson, Kansas at the age of 92 years 5 months. She was the daughter of Laurence and Pearle (Webb) Nelson.

She grew up on a farm close to her grandparents near Natoma, Kansas and graduated from Natoma High School in 1939. In January 1940, she went to Johnson, Kansas, to visit her aunt and uncle. She stayed because they needed help in their restaurant, and that is where she met Edd Barber. They became engaged in July and were married on October 27, 1940, at her grandparent’s home in Rooks County, Kansas. They celebrated their 60th anniversary before Edd passed away in 2001.

Edd and Ona lived in Johnson for a time before moving to Wichita so Edd could work for Cessna Aircraft. He joined the US Navy in November 1942, and Ona lived where he was stationed when possible. Following his three year term of duty, they returned to Johnson where she was a homemaker and he farmed with his family.

In 1946, Laurence Thomas was born followed by K. Ellen in 1950. Ona became a Christian at the age of 6 in the Methodist church in Natoma and faithfully attended Bethel Church of the Nazarene with her family.

Ona is survived by son Tom and wife Maxine of Wichita,Kansas; daughter K. Ellen and husband Lyle Kersey of Johnson, Kansas; six grandchildren: Beth and husband Frank Abramowich of Inverness, Florida; Glenn Barber and wife Jennifer of Wichita, Kansas; Becky and husband Harley Peery of Goddard, Kansas; Luke Kersey of Phoenix, Arizona; Kaylee Kersey of Johnson, Kansas; and Landon Kersey and wife Chanda of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 11 great-grandchildren: Katy, Kelly, and Amy Abramowich, Caroline and Julia Barber, Seth, Ashley, Blaine and Anna Peery, and Dacie and Hayden Kersey; brother Bill Nelson and wife Helen of Norton, Kansas; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral service will be held at 4:00 PM on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at the Bethel Church of the Nazarene in Johnson, Kansas with Pastor Ken Armstrong officiating. Interment will follow at the Stanton County Cemetery in Johnson, Kansas. Friends may call from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Friday, April 4, 2014 at Garnand Funeral Home in Johnson. Memorial contributions may be given to the Stanton County Memorial Living Center or the Bethel Church of the Nazarene in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 715, Johnson, Kansas 67855.