Barbara Ruth Rutherford

Graveside services for Barbara Ruth Rutherford, 83, Lawrence, KS will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 27, 2024, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Frankin County, KS. Barbara passed away December 19, 2024, at Windsor of Lawrence.

Barbara was born August 10, 1941, in Topeka, KS, the daughter of Lloyd and Helen (Hepner) Hoffman.

Barbara grew up in the Globe and Worden areas when she was a young girl, living on farms and attending one room schoolhouse Central No. 64

She moved around with family at times and also lived in Lawrence and Topeka where she graduated from Highland Park high school in 1958. She worked for the University of Kansas first in Sociology Department then later in the Chancellors Office until she left in mid 80’s. She later worked for Erickson, Vance Publication and then Black and Veatch in the Overland Park area where she worked for 15 years before she retired in 2004. In 2005 she worked part time with the United Way of Douglas County and really enjoyed the many different people that came in.

In 2012 she met her husband Allen while hanging out with other people at her apartment complex she lived in. They got married in 2014 and went to many places including the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore and the Badlands. Barbara enjoyed time with her daughter, Kristi going shopping, or go float at Lone Star Lake and even take a few vacations   to Branson, or to Dallas. Both always seemed to be on the same wavelength, and she always exclaimed “Would you just get out of my head!”

Barbara enjoyed her many nieces and nephews always seeing what they were up do, or what the boys were doing at the Quonset in Olpe! She loved joking with them and always laughing at things they did or say.

Barbara loved animals and always had a cat or dog or both. She loved puttering around in her yard growing tomatoes or planting pretty flowers, mowing her grass to keep it nice.

Barbara also loved to cook meals and baking things, especially come Christmas times with the cookies and peanut butter fudge to give out to people at work or at home.

In 2020 she lost the love of her life to complications from a major surgery and was having health issues herself. Her daughter Kristi stepped up to help with Barbara’s moves to a different home and helping her with doctor visits and going out to eat and shop, they took many day trips in the last three years and enjoyed singing to Neil Diamonds ‘Sweet Caroline” or to the Beach Boys. She loved her grand dog daughter and enjoyed interacting with her telling her she’s a good dog.

Barbara loved her place at Windsor where she lived the last three years, always walking around asking what are the workers doing and saying hi to people. She was so well loved by all and will definitely be missed.

She married Allen Rutherford in Lawrence, KS on April 7, 2014, and he preceded her in death.

Survivors include her daughter, Kristi Johnson, brother, Bob (Edwinia) Hoffman, sister, Shirley Cox, half siblings, Letha Simmons, and LR Hoffman.

Barbara was also preceded in death by her parents, and sister, Donna Pearson.

Memorial contributions may be made in Barbara’s name to Alzheimer’s Association and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.