Barbara E. Symns, 94, of Atchison KS died Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 at the Select Specialty Hospital in Oklahoma City, OK.
Funeral services will be 10:30 am on Thursday, Oct. 8th, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Rachel Dannar officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Atchison KS. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 7th, 2015 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home who is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church or the American Cancer Society and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences and memories to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.
Barbara E. Stinebaugh was born on March 13, 1921 in Princeton, Kansas the daughter of Elmer and Ava (Morris) Stinebaugh. She attended grade school at Princeton, KS and graduated from the Princeton High School. Barbara attended Kansas State University and received her B.S. degree in Home Economics from Benedictine College, Atchison. She was a homemaker and worked as the secretary for the First Presbyterian Church for more than 10 years. She later worked for the State of Kansas Social & Rehabilitation Services where she managed homemaker training and placement for the elderly in several NE Kansas counties until her retirement at age 75. Mrs. Symns was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Atchison, the Martha Washington Chapter #215 Order of the Eastern Star and the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Unit. She was a long-time 4-H leader who taught many members to sew. She was a strong supporter and believer in education. She especially enjoyed music, gardening, travel, sewing and genealogy. She defeated cancer and subsequently enjoyed family, friends and other interests for nearly thirty more years.
She was married to Perrin K. Symns on Nov. 1, 1942 in Princeton, KS. Mr. Symns preceded her in death on July 18, 1984. Survivors include a daughter, Barbara (Arthur) Stoecker, Stillwater, OK., two sons, P. Kent (Marcia Wolters) Symns, Atchison, KS., and Richard (Janina) Symns, LeGrange , IL , a sister, Helen Snelling, Newberry, South Carolina, six grandchildren ,seven great grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Her parents, three brothers, Ted, Gene and James Stinebaugh, and a sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Kissinger also preceded her in death.