Francis and Lucile Barrow

 

Francis and Lucile Barrow were very active members of the Congregational Church of Austin. Francis led the fund raising for the construction of the Towery Educational Wing. Following their time in Austin, they moved to Springfield, IL Laurene Melchar was an associate of Francis and moved to Springfield, IL when the Barrows moved.

Francis and Lucile Barrow

 

 

Francis Barrow

SACRAMENTO, CA - Francis Wayne Barrow passed away on October 31, 2012, prior to his 87th birthday. Born in Bendena, Kansas to Jesse and Julia Seever Barrow, he graduated from the University of Kansas where he met Lucile Ralston. They were married in 1948 and moved to Oregon where their five children were born. They next moved to Austin, Texas where Francis worked for the Texas State Teachers Association and was a key member of the Congregational Church of Austin. Francis worked 37 years for Horace Mann Insurance, advancing to Vice President in the Springfield IL home office. Francis served on the Board of the Springfield Housing Authority. He earned an MA from Sangamon State University in Human Development Counseling. In 1993, Francis and Lucile retired to Medford, Oregon. In 2008, they moved to Sacramento, California. Francis is preceded in death by son Walter. Survived by wife Lucile, their children and spouses/partners: Leslie and Ralph Palmer, Randy Barrow and Ron James, Ross and Lucia Barrow, Julie Barrow and JoAnn Semones; grandchildren: Nathan Palmer and Patricia Valenzuela, Anna, and Ryan Palmer, and Maia and Jesse Barrow; and great-grandchild, Noah Valenzuela-Palmer. Interment will be at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens in Grants Pass, OR. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the University of Kansas Alumni Association, 1266 Oread Ave., Lawrence KS 66045 - 785-864-4760

Lucile Ralston Barrow

SACRAMENTO, CA - Lucile Ralston Barrow, passed away March 2, 2014, just after her 91st birthday. 

She was born at home in Sabetha, Kan., in 1923, the only child of Fannie Ashley and Walter Leslie Ralston.

Fannie was a schoolteacher and Walter was a farmer, carpenter and storekeeper. Nicknamed "Lutie", Lucile was a fun-loving person with a wonderful sense of humor. Lucile graduated from the University of Kansas in 1948. She married her college sweetheart, Francis, at the university chapel on June 6, 1948. During their 64 years of marriage, they raised five children and lived in Oregon, Texas, Illinois and California.

Lucile fondly recounted teaching many grade levels in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Kansas. In midlife she was the Director of the Illinois Consortium for Community Action of the Illinois Conference of Churches. Her groundbreaking work with Project LIFE Area Agency on Aging as nursing home ombudsman and hotline service director was incorporated into the Illinois Deptartment on Aging. In 1976, Lucile was elected as a delegate for Jimmy Carter and attended the Democratic National Convention in New York City where he was nominated for President. 

In 1993, Francis and Lucile retired to Medford, Ore., where they loved having their children and their families for extended visits. Lucile also cared for her mother, Fannie, in her later years, who lived to be 101. In 2008, Lucile and Francis moved to Sacramento, Calif.

Lucile was preceded in death by Francis and son, Walt, and is survived by children and partners: Leslie and Ralph Palmer, Randy Barrow and Ron James, Ross and Lucía Barrow, Julie Barrow and JoAnn Semones; five grandchildren: Nathan, Anna, and Ryan Palmer, and Maia and Jesse Barrow; a great-grandchild, Noah Palmer, and his mother, Tricia Valenzuela. 

Interment will be at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens in Grants Pass, Ore.