Barbara Lucille Chambers

Lucille was born prematurely by 5 weeks in a 2-room shack in the rural town of Graphic, Arkansas on January 13, 1930, the daughter of James McKinley Parker, a linewalker for Sinclair Oil, and Geneva Edna Anglen, a teacher and loving mother. Nicknamed “Dutch” by her maternal grandfather, Lucille was the youngest of the surviving 7 children in her family.

In her own words: “We usually had 2 acres of tomatoes, and the whole family did the work, until picking time, then daddy hired some others to help. The tomatoes were so green, and would ripen in transit to their destination. When the rest of the crop of ripened, we only sold the “perfect” ones– it was canning time, and all along, as the fruit ripened, and Bobby and Harold had a vegetable stand on Highway 69. We canned tomatoes and tomato juice in cans by the hundreds. We were quite a sight with the whole family working outside.”

In 1945, after the sudden death of her father, the family started a new adventure when together they moved from the quiet country town of Jacksonville, Texas to the big city of Dallas so that Geneva could find employment. Lucille graduated from Adamson High School in 1947 at SMU’s McFarlin Auditorium.

That fall, Lucille entered Methodist Hospital Nursing School program in Dallas. Because they didn’t have money for college, her brother-in-law Wyatt paid the $200 tuition.

Lucille met the love of her life, Richard Kenneth Chambers, Sr. through his sister, Mary Frances Chambers, about the time Lucille and Mary Frances graduated from nursing school: in May of 1950. Right after graduation, Lucille was at Mary Frances' apartment one Sunday afternoon. Kenneth called his sister and said that he had a 3-hour layover at LOVE Field; would his sister want to drive to Love Field and visit while he was waiting? It was Sunday afternoon; with nothing else going on, Mary Frances and Lucille went to Love Field.

Some time passed and, around October 1951, Kenneth called Lucille. He invited her to the State Fair with another couple. A few months later, the Hospital Alumni Association held their annual Christmas dance. Lucille invited Kenneth (he lived in Waco). He agreed to come; this is officially when they started dating.

They married March 8, 1952 (the first couple to marry in the brand new chapel at Oak Lawn Methodist Church.) Lucille went from pauper to princess (USAF officer's wife) over night.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Lucille often found herself raising their 3 small boys alone while her husband was deployed to Air Force duties. The family had several moves and many travels. A daughter was added in the 1960’s, toward the end of Kenneth’s Air Force career. Once Kenneth retired and the move to Grand Prairie was complete in 1973, Lucille began to experience a “new normal” outside of military life.

Lucille was an avid gardener, who enjoyed reading, anything having to do with children, comedy shows and watching the horses race at Lone Star Park. Above all, she loved her family and always made time to care for them. For several decades, Lucille prepared countless delicious meals with great joy and anticipation and was well known for her homemade crescent rolls & pies.

Known as a tireless and selfless giver, Lucille was very active as a volunteer in many capacities. She loved Jesus, having given her heart to Jesus at 14. From 1980-1982, Lucille served on the Grand Prairie Memorial Library Board. From 1991-1996, and in 2004, she volunteered in South Dallas at a reading program the Methodist Church sponsored. From 1998 to 2001, she volunteered for the Grand Prairie Medical Transportation Services. Lucille often coordinated blood drives at church, delivered many meals through Meals on Wheels and received too many Certificates of Appreciation and Recognition to list.

Growing up poor during the dust bowl years and helping her parents and siblings pick vegetables from the garden to sell on the side of the road only served to forge a deep thankfulness and love for her friends and family who already miss her strong, calm presence, love, humor and wisdom. Lucille (and her generation) suffered, endured, sacrificed, rose above and survived many wars and tragedies that fueled a perseverance to give back, return, lift up, come alongside and “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)

Barbara Lucille Chambers is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Kenneth Chambers , Sr. her son, Richard Chambers, Jr., her father James Parker, mother Geneva Anglen, sisters Velma Lemons (Wyatt), and Marian Miller (Gregg), brothers Kirk (Dorrace), Paul (Ruth), Harold (Margaret) and Bob (Jerrye). She is survived her sons Ronald and Phillip Chambers, daughter Laura Hensley (Donnell), grandson Matthew Chambers, great-grandsons Jett and Jaxxon Chambers. She is also survived by step-grandchildren Jessica Ryan, Jon Hensley (Rebecca) and Courtney Smith (Jay) as well as many, many nieces and nephews.

Visitation is on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas followed by a Celebration of Life at 2 p.m. Mrs. Chambers will be interred at the DFW National Cemetery in Dallas on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. (Please arrive 15 min. early as the burials are very prompt.)

Please consider making a donation to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers.