Barbara Ham

Mrs. Barbara Ham passed away Monday September 5th, 2011 at the age of 74, attended by her husband Don, and family members. Services will be Friday September 9th, 2011, with visitation at 1 pm followed by a funeral service at 2 pm at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8220 Woodway Dr, Waco, TX 76712, phone 254-741-0404. The service will be officiated by Pastor Dr. Grant Kaul. A brief graveside service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco.

Barbara was a delight to her family and friends, and was a light for Christ to all she knew. Her life was full, and evokes wonderful memories for us all.

Barbara was born August 4, 1937 in Phillips, Texas, a small town in the panhandle, to parents Raymond and Roxie Darrell. She is the older sister to brothers Jim and David Darrell, both now of Sweeny, Texas.

When she was only a toddler, Barbara met her future husband, Don Ham, who was two years older. They grew up together in Phillips, and became sweethearts at Phillips High School on the way to 55 years of marriage.

In high school, Barbara participated in band, choir, theater, Semper Fidelis Sub-Deb Girls Club, and many other activities. She served as Band Queen when the Phillips Blackhawks won the Texas State Football Championship game. When she graduated from Phillips High School in 1955, she followed Don to the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied to be a teacher.

Barbara and Don were married in June 1956. Circumstances prevented her from finishing her teaching degree (although over time she accumulated almost 4 years of college), but she worked at the University of Texas and as a medical receptionist to support Don through law school, prompting the dean of the law school to award her a PHT (Putting Husband Through) degree!

Don's service with the US Army, and his subsequent practice of law took them to various places. Their oldest daughter Jeanne was born in Alabama, and sons Matt and Jeff in Houston. Eventually they made their home in Amarillo, where they lived for 45 years.

Barbara's passions included a lifelong love of music, singing with Sweet Adelines International, meticulous sewing projects, oil painting, cooking, and reading. She took computer programming courses at West Texas State, and pioneered the continuous use of computers in her home starting in 1978 through the present. Just last week she wanted to buy a new laptop!

Like her mother Roxie, Barbara was a passionate evangelist for Christ. She loved teaching child evangelism at St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church. Later at Paramount Terrace Christian Church (now Hillside Christian Church) she led the children’s choir and taught Sunday school. She was an avid reader of scripture, participated with The Navigators, and was involved in evangelism abroad. For example, after the fall of the Soviet Union, she went on an evangelical trip to Belarus, and developed a relationship with a Belarusian teenager whom she and Don later brought to Amarillo, where they provided support, mentoring and education.

Barbara also loved to travel. She and Don visited many places in the states and abroad, but she was always happiest traveling to be with her family. So in March 2011, after spending 45 years in Amarillo, Barbara and Don moved to Waco to be near their children in Arlington, Waco, and Austin. Though her time living in Waco was brief, it was a great blessing to her children and family to have her near, and they are thankful to the Lord for that.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Roxie Darrell.
She is survived by her husband Don, her brothers, her children and their spouses, and her many grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Campus Crusade for Christ (general fund, or Singleton #0048027); or to GLC (God's Learning Channel).

Friday September 9, 2011 , 2:00 p.m. at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel

Friday September 9, 2011 , 1:00 p.m. at Grace Gardens Funeral Home

Friday September 9, 2011 at Oakwood Cemetery