Barbara Jean (Watkins) Hollingshead passed from this life on July 7, 2021 at Kansas Christian Home in Newton Kansas.
Barb was born in Newton, on July 10, 1930, as the third child and only daughter to Homer and Gwen Watkins. She was active in the First Baptist Church and worked at Graves Drug store as a young teenager through high school, graduating in 1948. In 1951 she moved to Kansas City where she met Charles Hollingshead on a blind date and married him six weeks later - a marriage that lasted for 65 years until his death in 2016.
In 1956, Chuck and Barb moved back to Newton with their two small children to be closer to her family. Barb became a stay at home Mom until 1967 when she went to work for JC Penny. She was active in several churches over the years including First Baptist, Bible Baptist and Newton Bible. Between the years of 1983 to 2000, they lived in Lyons, KS and Colorado Springs, CO, after which they returned to Newton. Barb greatly enjoyed volunteering at Elderly Care Facilities and spent several years working with Source of Light in Newton.
Barb was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Chuck, three brothers Robert (Lee) of Newton, Mack (Glenda) of Newton, William (Loraine) of Newton. Survivors include one brother Larry (Patricia) of Tyler TX, Son Dan (Patti) Hollingshead of Longmont CO, Daughter Becky (Bill) Smoldt of Osborne KS, and Son Tim (Denise) Hollingshead of Wichita, KS. Her survivors include six Grandchildren and 20 Great-Grandchildren.
Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday evening, July 2, 2021 at Petersen Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 10, 2021 at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in the Eastlawn Cemetery in Zimmerdale, Kansas. Memorial donations can be made to Kansas Christian Home or Source of Light Kansas in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
