Barbara grew up in Wichita and went to Wichita East High. She met the love of her life when she was just 14 and he was 16 at church, and they married right out of High School.
Barbara worked throughout her life in the collections department at Sears and Physicians Billing service and then later retired from Mid Kansas Savings and Loan where she worked as a Collections Supervisor.
She traveled with her husband John throughout his career in the Navy, to places such as California and Hawaii, working different jobs and raising the children.
Barbara was passionate about her hobbies. One hobby was singing, as a soloist. She was involved in her church choir and a ladies' Trio, she even had the honor of singing on the Navy ships. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed oil painting. She traveled extensively not only in the United States but also abroad, mainly in Europe and Japan. She enjoyed going to family farms and gathering different fruit and vegetables for canning and made sure to teach the next generation her tricks of the trade.
Barbara had a flair for fashion. She loved to dress to the "nines" including her matching hats. She was affectionately known as the "Hat Lady".
Many years and many generations participated in her annual "Christmas Cookie Bake". The minute you were able to handle a rolling pin or made it into the family you were initiated into the tradition.
Barbara is survived by her daughter Sharon Elwell-Cuddy (Thomas Cuddy); grandson Trevor Elwell Cuddy M.D. (Mi Ge "Faith" Kim M.D.); step-grandson Matt Culver; and daughter-in-law Shirley Dodds.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband John E. Elwell; father Leonard A. Workman; mother Lorene M. Jones Workman; sister Betty Pittman; sons Donald Allen Elwell and Jeffrey Mark Elwell; and grandson Justin Elwell-Cuddy.
A come and go visitation for Barbara will be held Wednesday, August 21, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM at Lakeview Funeral Home, 12100 E 13Th St N, Wichita, Kansas 67206.
A private family interment will occur at a later date.
