Barbara Ann Chaplin

Barbara Ann Chaplin passed away Saturday, March 21st after a 6 year battle with cancer. She was at home and surrounded by her family.

Barbara was born in Dayton Ohio on March 24th, 1943 to Edward and Margaret Helm. She lived in Dayton with her older brother, Edward, and sister Alma until their parents divorced. In 1952, Barbara and her siblings moved with their father and step mother to Oklahoma City. Barbara grew up in Oklahoma City, and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1961. She then worked as a secretary at Tinker Air Force Base until 1965 when she saved enough money and got a scholarship to go to Oklahoma City University.

She met her husband John Chaplin who was in the US from England on a Work/Study Visa working at the General Electric (GE) Plant in Oklahoma City. He was drafted and sent to work at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington DC in 1966. Barbara and John were married on Dec 29th, 1967. Barbara graduated with a degree in Religious Education in 1968 and moved to join John in Washington DC in August, 1968.

After John completed two years of military service, John and Barbara moved to Bristol, Connecticut with GE for one year, then to Denver, Colorado. Their son, Christopher was born in 1971 and daughter, Lisa was born in 1975. Barbara said all she ever wanted in life was to get married and have children. Barbara was most fulfilled raising her two children.

One month after Lisa was born in 1975, the family moved from Colorado to Overland Park, Kansas. Both children grew up in the Shawnee Mission School system and graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School. In 1978, the family joined Leawood United Methodist Church.

Barbara taught Sunday School until 1991 and then resumed teaching in 2007. She served on the Mission’s Team, Social Concern’s Team, and started the Green Team. She was also the Director of Christian Education from 1984 to 1986.

Barbara loved tennis and the family joined Overland Park Racquet Club (OPRC) in 1978. Barbara served as the Swim Team Meet Director from 1980-1986 as the children competed with the OPRC Gators in the MOKAN Swim League.

In 1987, Barbara went back to school full time at the University of Kansas. She graduated with a Masters in Social Work and was licensed in 1990. She worked for Social Rehabilitation Services (SRS) for four years. At different times Barbara had to stop working and focus on caring for her special needs daughter, Lisa who struggled with mental illness. The first time was in 1994 when Lisa graduated High School. Later Barbara became involved in Mother to Mother in Johnson County serving as Treasurer, then Vice President, and eventually President in 1999. Unfortunately, she had to leave Mother to Mother in 1999 again to focus on Lisa’s care.

After Lisa recovered, Barbara was able to travel with a group of friends from 2001 to 2008. During this time she visited China, Egypt, Russia, Eastern Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and India.

Barbara was devoted to her family and church. She lived a life marked by compassion and kindness. She also cherished the fellowship she shared with her friends through tennis and travel.

She is preceded in death by her husband John Chaplin and her brother Edward Helm. She is survived by her sister Alma Wheeler, her brother Rob Haney, her sister Sue Hamden, her daughter Lisa Chaplin, her son and his wife Chris and Mary Chaplin, and her grand children, Robbie and Lauren Chaplin.

The family will hold a private service to remember Barbara at the end of May. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Barbara’s home church, Leawood United Methodist Church in Leawood Kansas.