Barbara H. Kraft

She was born on February 10, 1936 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Carl and Gladys Homan. Growing up and attending high school in Kirkwood, Missouri, her artistic talents were impressive at an early age. She went on to pursue art at Washington University in St. Louis on a scholarship and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1957.

Her professional accomplishments were far reaching as she moved through her life as an artist. As a member of the St. Louis Artists Guild, she did numerous portraits at various art fairs and by private commission, and her paintings are in private collections including the late Phyllis Diller, and the Honorable Lloyd Stark, former governor of Missouri. Her work in portraiture and painting had earned her numerous awards and recognition in her field in many of the communities she resided. She also often offered her artistic skills in order to raise funds for many charitable organizations, including the St. Louis society for Retarded Children, the Ronald McDonald House of Toronto Canada, the Junior League of Birmingham Michigan, and the River Hills South Carolina Lions Club to name a few.

The most important part of Barbara’s life, however, was her family. She met her devoted husband Ronald at Washington University, and they married shortly after graduation on December 23, 1957. She was a kind, devoted mother and grandmother who believed in independence, personal accountability and responsibility. Her care and concern for each of her children and grandchildren always encouraged her family to work hard to succeed in whatever passions they pursued. She never wanted to miss seeing a special school or sporting event that her children and grandchildren were involved in and continued to do so as she was physically able.

She is survived by her Husband of 63 years, Ronald Warren Kraft; Daughters: Diane Kraft Finney (David) of Ada, Michigan, and Julie Kraft Hobby (Gregory) of Charlotte, North Carolina; Brother: Scott Thomas Homan (Christine) of Ladue, Missouri; Grandchildren: Allison Finney Diemer (Timothy), Kevin David Finney (Sydney), Alexander Willis Hobby, Rachel Anne Hobby; and Great-Granddaughter Ellis Pearl Finney.

A service to celebrate Barbara’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 17 at the Community Church at Lake Wylie, 104 Hamilton’s Ferry Rd., Lake Wylie, SC 29710.

For those wishing to send memorial gifts, please consider the River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club. https://www.rhlwlions.org/

To view original artwork by Barbara Kraft please visit: http://arabrab.club/barbara-kraft/

Condolences may be offered at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com