Barbara Mayhew George

Barbara Mayhew George, age 98, a long-time resident of Estes Park, Colorado, passed from this life on January 7, 2014, at her home in Estes Park, surrounded by her family, her companion, and caregiver. She was born August 23, 1915, in Post Mills, Vermont. Her parents were the Rev. Leland E. Tupper and Laura Lois Chamberlin Tupper.
Barbara spent the first eight years of her childhood in Vermont before moving with her family to Hiawatha, Kansas, where she graduated from Hiawatha High School in 1932. She received a degree from the University of Kansas in 1938 and began teaching in a Brown County, Kansas, country school. She married Paul E. George of Hiawatha in 1940. He preceded her in death in 1964.
During the years of World War II, she was the Brown County Welfare Director and assisted many families through those difficult times.
In addition to her experience of teaching at Carson School, Barbara taught high school in Falls City, Nebraska, Hiawatha and Robinson schools, and concluded her career of thirty-five years of teaching with several years at the Robinson Middle School. After her husband’s death, she was also the owner of Reents Shoe Store in downtown Hiawatha. She retired from teaching in 1980 and moved to make Estes Park her home.
Barbara is survived by her companion Walter Richards, a son Michael George and his wife Netta of Lawrence, Kansas, a daughter Paula George of Colorado Springs, Colorado, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. She was a dedicated genealogist and family scholar. After co-founding the Estes Park Genealogical Society, she taught a course for others interested in researching and documenting their ancestors. Funeral services were at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies on Monday, January 13, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. There will also be a graveside service at Mount Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha, Kansas, for family and friends on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. Barbara touched many lives along the way – family, friends and students. She will be remembered for her passion for teaching, her love of family and friends, her kindness and her love of nature. She will be missed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Estes Park Senior Center or the University of Kansas Endowment Association, in care of Allnutt Funeral Chapel in Estes Park. The family would like to thank the Hospice of the Estes Valley and Home Instead Senior Care for their loving care and assistance. Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha is in charge of Kansas arrangements.
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