Yolanda D. “Toni” Barr, 89, died Sunday August 17, at the Harry S. Truman VA Hospital in Columbia, MO. A Memorial Service will be held at the Missouri United Methodist Church Friday, September 12, at 2 PM. Donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization.
Born February 6, 1919 in Chicago, Illinois, Toni graduated from Proviso High School. She earned a BA in Photo/Journalism at the University of Wisconsin. She served as a Sergeant in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II, working in occupational rehabilitation and recruiting. December 6, 1947, Toni married Charles Lee Barr Jr. Toni was the Public Information Specialist at Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center, St. Louis, MO for 11 years retiring in 1978. She lived in Colorado from 1979 to 1996, where she was an avid outdoors woman, loved hiking and visiting state and national parks. In 1996 she moved to Columbia, MO.
Toni was a life member of the DAV, St. Louis Chapter 1; Past Commander of the Montrose American Legion; Past President of the Montrose Gallery Artists; served on many boards and service agencies as a volunteer and officer. Since September 10, 1999 Toni was a fixture at the Harry S. Truman VA Hospital in Columbia, volunteering 1895 hours as the Friday morning coffee hostess.
She is survived by son Charles Lee Barr III and wife Sarah of Paradise, MO, daughters Christine G. Cazer and husband Jim, Hotchkiss, CO and Elizabeth D. Goldenhersh, Columbia, six grandchildren; Corrinne and Meredith Barr, Jenny Sanders, Wesley Jacobson, Rachel and Jonah Goldenhersh, one great grandchild, Riley Sanders, and many nieces and nephews.
I shall pass through this world but once.
Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it,
For I shall not pass this way again.
Henry Drummond
