Barbara Ann Burkins

Barbara Kilpatrick Burkins, 87, died after a brief illness on January 9, 2025 at a local hospital. She was born November 5, 1937 in Arlington. At age six, Barbara began piano lessons. Throughout her life, she enjoyed a life-long love of playing the piano and organ in service of clubs, choirs, and churches.

Barbara graduated from Baylor University with a BME and earned a M. Ed in Supervision from Texas Women’s University. During her career, she taught music, was an elementary school teacher, vice principal and finally Principal of Dunn Elementary. After retirement, she returned to AISD to interview teacher applicants and do interim principal jobs until 2007.

For many years, Barbara enjoyed membership in Junior Woman’s Club, Arlington Woman’s Club, Encore Club, Sewing Club, and Bas Bleu Book Club.

Later in life, Barbara continued to play piano for her Sunday School Department, club programs and soloists. She was thrilled when in her mid-70s, she was asked to play the organ for FBCA services.

Barbara thought her best “job” was wife to her loving husband and proud mother of two daughters. She was also proud of her sons-in-law, whom she considered sons. “Gran” adored her grandchildren Austin, Mason, Brianna, Jessica and Ryan, and her three great-grandchildren. As the grandchildren came along, Barbara and husband Charles attended their activities as they had for their own children. Over the years, endless games of Checkers, Cards, I Spy, Hide and Seek and Charades were played with Gran and Grandaddy. Gran hosted an annual Easter Egg Hunt for 25+ years.

Mrs. Burkins was preceded in death by her father and mother, John and Minnie Kilpatrick, and her husband Charles O. Burkins.

Survivors: Daughters and sons-in-laws, Belinda and Grady Hicks of Arlington, Charla and Tommy Neumann of Spring; grandchildren, Austin Hicks and Maddy Lloyd, Mason Hicks, Brianna Hicks, Jessica Schwarzer and husband Alex, Ryan Neumann; great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Savannah Schwarzer and Archer Hicks; brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Penny Kilpatrick; niece, Kristy Pierce and nephew Mark Kilpatrick.

Visitation: 10:00am-11:00am Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at First Baptist Church of Arlington, 301 S. Center St., followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 AM.

Burial: Parkdale Cemetery, Arlington,Tx.