Barbara A. LaHood

Barbara was born in Peoria on July 5, 1943, the second daughter of Arthur and Barbara (Johnson) Gilkerson. They both preceded her in death.

She spent her childhood in the Uplands neighborhood of Peoria's West Bluff, where she would later return to raise her own family. Barbara graduated from Peoria High School in 1961. She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Illinois with an emphasis on oil painting. While in college she pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and spent her summers working at Conference Point Camp along Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, WI.

Upon graduation, she received her teaching certification and taught art to high school students. She would later manage a college art supply and bookstore, while continuing to paint.

She married James R. LaHood on July 19, 1975, at First United Methodist Church in Peoria. He survives.

She is also survived by her children, Dorie (Michael) Kloss of Waukegan, Jana (Armando) Olvera of Woodland, CA, Leigh (Todd) Keylock of Bowling Green, OH, Marianna of Peoria, Emily (Bruce) Nieminski of Park Forest, James (Mindy) of Bloomington; sisters, Martha (Marvin) Cochran of Galesburg and Margaret Elrick of Elgin; and six grandchildren. One of her proudest accomplishments was being a mother of six.

She is known for sharing her Christian faith through being a counselor to many and an inspiring speaker at her church, Sunday school classes, and other venues. After her children were grown, she found a passion for volunteering as a chaplain at Proctor hospital, praying with families who were in the midst of losing a loved one.

Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012 at Riverside Community Church in Peoria with Rev. John King officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday at Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria, with further visitation one hour before services Tuesday at the church. Private burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in West Peoria.

Memorial contributions may be made in Barbara’s memory to Riverside Community Church or Cedar Hills Baptist Church in Dunlap.