Barbara A. Justiss

Barbara’s life journey began in Kansas City, KS at a time when the typical path for a young girl was to raise a family and support her husband in a career. As Barbara found her way in the world she developed a sense of strength where she stretched herself to strive for it all. At an early age she loved learning, music, and sports. Whether it meant she sang in the chorus, played the French Horn, or being elected Basketball Queen by her eighth-grade classmates, Barbara knew what she wanted and went for it.

After graduation from high school Barbara began her next adventure, working at AT and T as a payroll clerk. She learned her job, did it well, and took advantage of all that her new employer had to offer. After she completed the necessary training, she moved to a new job in Engineering Technical Support and for the remainder of her career she thrived in the then male-dominated work of Telecommunications Engineering.

As Barbara built her career, she explored the country through travel, from east to west from New York City to Phoenix, she came to realize how much more there was for her to see and do. It was during this time that she met another explorer, a young man from a small town in North Florida who traveled to Kansas City in search of his adventure. Although it took some convincing, this young man finally convinced Barbara to combine their adventures and become husband and wife as they drove to Phoenix to get out of the cold Kansas winters and start a life together.

In her new home in Phoenix, Barbara did it all, built her career, started a family, partnered with her husband Wally to build his career and a business. Whether making sure lunches were packed, school projects were completed, or just that her kids had the support they needed as she worked, Barbara raised and nurtured her 2 children to assure that they were equipped to thrive in an ever changing world. She did this by assuring that her daughter not only knew how to cook and take care of a family but also instill in her a fierce independence to always believe in yourself and what she could do. With her son, she encouraged his mechanical abilities and also let go of her fears for him as he pursued his passion of dirt bike racing and moto-cross.

As her family thrived, Barbara continued to build her career where many times she was the only female in the office. She was a respected technical problem solver who worked for over 25 years to help assure that our nation’s telecommunication infrastructure worked reliably. Her co-workers teasingly referred to her as “Ma Bell.”

Lastly, Barbara was a partner to the love of her life, Wally. For over 56 years, Barbara encouraged her husband in his journey. Whether it was to cheer him on as he bowled, work late into the night wrapping meat to compete a day’s orders at her husband’s business after she completed her work in both in the office and at home, or preparing the side dishes for one of the many barbecues that she and Wally hosted as part of his business, Barbara did it all and showed her love to her family every day of her life.

Following her retirement, she and Wally continued their journey and dream by moving to Munds Park, AZ where she and Wally enjoyed the cool weather, pines, mountain air, and the many friends they either knew from Phoenix or met in Munds Park.

It was in her retirement that once more Barbara demonstrated her strength and perseverance as a 25 year cancer survivor and her 10 year battle with Dementia. Barbara truly exemplified the type of women immortalized in Helen Reddy’s 1972 song, I am Women…

She was Strong

She was Invincible

She could bend but never break

She was Women.

Barbara was the last of her siblings to leave this earth but she does leave behind her Son (Gary), Daughter and Son-in-Law (Sylvia and Dennis), Grandson (Ryan), and 2 Great – Grandchildren along with many extended family members and friends who will cherish her as a true treasure.

Rest in Peace Sweet Lady – Your journey on earth is complete – you were and will always be Loved.