Barbara Hipp

Barbara Jean O’Neal Hipp, of Overland Park, Kan., passed away at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, June 1, 2007, after a two-year battle with lung cancer. Born in Wichita, Kan., on June 4, 1929, she graduated from Wichita East High School in 1947 and attended the University of Kansas, where she graduated in 1951 as a Fine Arts major with in Interior Design degree. While at KU, Barbara was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She was actively involved in all aspects of college life and held the Law School Queen title in 1950. She also held the prestigious title of Outstanding Fine Arts Student in 1951. While attending KU she met her husband, John Hipp, a Sigma Chi, while he waited tables at the Alpha Chi Omega sorority house and the two were married in Wichita in 1952. After moving to Denver, Colorado, Barbara began her ever-evolving career in motherhood after giving birth to Susan in 1954, Linda in 1955 and Shelly in 1958. Barbara also had a varied career path including modeling, drafting, fashion retail and advertising; ending as an Interior Designer at Pennsylvania House in both Topeka and Kansas City. Retired from interior design since 1999, Barbara teamed up with her interior designer daughter and created beautiful pillow and bedding ensembles for the high-end interiors market. Active in the community, she was a member of Quester’s, the Alpha Chi Omega Alumni Association and the HE chapter of PEO. Husband, John B. Hipp and parents, Susie Berger and Herschel David O’Neal, preceded Barbara in death. She is survived by her brother William E. O’Neal, Overland Park, Kan.; her three children: Susan, Los Angeles, Calif.; Linda, Vail, Colo.; Shelly (Tom) Rockford, Ill.; and three grandchildren: Teddy, David and AJ. A heartfelt thank you is extended by the family to all of her doctors including, Drs. Khan, Sisillo, Samuel, Qurapul Ain, and her nurses at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, especially ICU nurse, Bethany Snider. Also thanks to all her neighbors and friends for all your support throughout this difficult year. The family would also like to extend an extra special thank you to Betty Jo Gilkison, who became a treasured family friend, caretaker and our surrogate mother. Condolences can be expressed at an open house held at the family home, Friday, June 8, 2007, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, for lung cancer research.

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