Gwendolyn Theolia Barbour was born July 28, 1939 in Cumberland, Maryland to William Henry Gordon and Wilma Theolia Dowd, she was the eldest of 4 children. In 1948 the family moved to Center Pointe, Arkansas and at age 9 Gwen joined the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church in Center Pointe and was a member until she graduated from Childress High School and graduated in 1957 in which at that time she moved to Chicago. She married Joe Tyus in 1959 and they moved to Evanston, IL and they later moved to Los Angeles, California to raise their family. Gwen worked at Bank of America as a Lead Teller and also held a second job at Newberry’s during this time. From that union came a son proceeded in death William Clayton Tyus, 2 daughters, Toni Yvette Tyus (Phipps), Terri Jo Tyus. Gwen later moved with her girls to Pennsylvania to be with her father to help with her stepmother while she recovered from a lengthy illness at this time she attended Wrights Memorial Methodist Church and was very active. She worked at Dollar Bank as the Lead Teller 5 years. She later met and married Walter Barbour and they moved to California to be near her family. While in California Gwen attended New Providence Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Luther Howard. She was also a caregiver on weekends. She enjoyed taking care of people it seemed that is what she loved to do. Upon retiring Gwen and Walter moved to his hometown of Washington, Pennsylvania where they built a home and bought an 18 wheeler and Gwen traveled with Walter until he stopped driving. Gwen was very active with the Lemoyne Center where she started the Drug Awareness Program for the youth. She was involved with the Elks Lodge in Washington, Pennsylvania where she was on the board, and she did bookkeeping, and assisted with event planning. She also was a member of the Western Star Temple. Gwen later moved to Tempe, AZ where she has been a member of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church where she has been a member for the last 14 years. She enjoyed going to her grandchildren’s sporting events as well as their band concerts. She enjoyed attending church, and serving the LORD until her untimely death.

Gwen is survived by her siblings: Norma Flannigan of LaPuente, CA, Harold Gordon of Apache Junction, AZ, Gary Gordon, Dallas, TX, her children: Toni Tyus-Phipps (Keith) of Tempe, AZ, Terri Tyus of Tempe, AZ, her grandchildren: Timothy Davis, Tiffany Davis(Tremaine), Paris Booker, Raven Booker, Keith Phipps II, Robert Booker II, Julian Phipps, her great-grandchildren: Nahla Sarai, Malachi Josiah, Skai (Little Gwen) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. She is proceeded in death by both parents and spouse Walter Barbour.

Arrangements entrusted to Carr-Tenney Mortuary, Tempe, Arizona. Please visit www.carrtenneymortuary.com to leave messages of comfort and memories of Gwen for her family.