Barbara Ann Inman Johnston

Barbara Ann Inman Johnston, daughter of Orval and Velma Inman, was born on Aug. 14, 1943 in the vicinity of Norwood. She departed this life on Jan. 27, 2025, in Ozark. Barbara Inman was raised on the family farm in the Norwood area. She had just turned 5 years old when she started school at Cornelius Country School. Walking a mile from the family farm to the school. Then after consolidation with Norwood School, she got to ride a school bus. She graduated from Norwood School in 1960 at the age of 16. In the next year, she married Chester York and they moved to Merriam, Kan. Two sons were born to this union. The divorced several years later. After sometime of being a single mother, she met and married LeRoy (Bob) Johnston in 1983. She had her brother, John, to stand beside her and be her witness of the vows. Bob Johnston had five children. The youngest, Robert Johnston, lived with them until he graduated. Bob Johnston died of cancer in 2005. Barbara’s oldest son, Timothy York, died in 2016. Timothy had one son, Justin York. Barbara lived in Merriam, Kan. most of her life until moving to assisted living in Ozark in March of 2024. Barbara worked at Electro Dynamics until the company moved to California. After the first 15 years she worked there, the company recognized her for not missing a day of work for 15 years. The company gave her a 15-place setting of china and a $500 gift certificate. After the company moved to California, Barbara went to work for the Blue Valley School District for several years. Barbara loved to walk after retiring and would walk from her house to a park that was a mile away from her house. Once at the park, Barbara would walk several miles around the walk way that was around the park, then walk back home. She met people there that looked forward to seeing her every day. She was known as the “walker.” Barbara’s main hobby was to embroidery squares for making quilts. These quilts would sometimes take years to complete. After a quilt was completed, she would give them to family members and sometimes friends. In her last few years, her brother, John, would walk with her when he could. Barbara loved to take care of her yard and had lots of flowers around it. She liked mowing her yard and also keeping her house in good repair. She had good neighbors and loved their kids. In the last five years of her life, Barbara spent a lot of time with her brother, John, and his wife, Carol. Barbara liked going to their farm with them. Sometimes, Barbara would stay with her brother, Ronnie, and his wife, Melba, in Springfield. She would get to see her niece, Mandy, and Mandy’s children, Ophelia, Seraphina, Mirable, Buddy and Rudiger. Mandy’s children instantly fell in love with their great aunt Barbara and Barbara loved them so much. These children became the highlight of her life. She looked forward to the trip to the farm with John and Carol so she could spend a few days with Ronnie and Melba. Mandy would bring the kids in for a visit and the kids would stay with her for a night or two. In the last 18 months of her life, she stayed with John and Carol Ann off and on, as Barbara’s memory was getting inconsistent. John placed her in assisted living in Ozark in March of 2024 so more family could visit her. John visited her three or more times a week and visiting often were Ron and Melba, Mandy and her children. Also visiting many times were her brother, Kenneth, niece, Sherry, and at time, niece, Susan, when possible.
Among people preceding her in death were her parents, Orval and Velma Inman; husband, LeRoy (Bob) Johnston; and her son, Timothy York. She is survived by one sister, Opal Williams, and her husband, Irvin; brother, Kenneth Inman; brother, John Inman and wife, Carol Ann; brother, Ronnie Inman, and wife, Melba; one aunt, Audrey; one son; one grandson; three great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; several great nieces and nephews; and several cousins. Barbara was loved by many and she will be missed by all.