Barbara Fay Stimach

Barbara Stimach, 98, passed away August 31, 2021. Barbara was born on October 27, 1922 in Clintwood, Virginia, to Arvil and Chloe (Branham) Phipps. After graduating from Dickenson Memorial High School, Barbara moved to Washington, D.C. to work at the Pentagon. While there she met her husband Roy who was stationed at Anacostia, D.C., and they married six months later. The couple moved to Kansas City and Barbara started working at Santa Fe Railroad, retiring after 30 years. They were married for over 70 years until Roy’s death in 2013.

Barbara was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was a woman of strong faith and a warm heart, which she gave fully to her loved ones. She was always willing to listen and share her advice, which reflected her incredible integrity and wisdom. She took a deep, genuine interest in people, as demonstrated by her unbelievable ability to recall details from the stories they had told her even years earlier. She frequently shared her beautiful smile and infectious laugh, particularly when recalling humorous stories or the practical jokes she was known to play. Throughout her life she invented creative ways to exercise her mind, including memorizing long bible verses that she would happily recite when asked. She was a competitor at heart, playing backgammon nearly every day and bowling into her 90s. She had a deep compassion for people, but above all else she loved and had total faith in the Lord. She showed us how to live our best life, and we will miss her more than words can express.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Ota Mae, Alma, Hazel, and brothers Kelsey and John Earl. Left behind to mourn her passing are her three children: Rita (Phil) Peterson, Joe Stimach, and Teresa (Bob) Johnson; six grandchildren: Kathy (Chris) Rogers, Kevin (Andrea) Peterson, Kim (Howard) Periman, Julian Stimach, Paula Stimach and Ryan Johnson; and six great-grandchildren: Kyle and Corinne Rogers, Logan Peterson, and Savannah, Jake and Ty Periman. She is also survived by her sister, Clarice Moore.

Services will be private.