Obituaries

Barbara Rudolph

Photo of Barbara Rudolph
Barbara Rudolph, of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away at the Circle of Life Hospice Home in Bentonville, Ark., on Friday, June 16, 2017, surrounded by her family. Barbara was the second child born to James William Whitacre and Lois Elliott Whitacre, on Nov. 23, 1932, in Kansas City, Kan. In Aug., 1952 Barbara married Moss Rudolph, whom she met at the University of Missouri. They made their home in Savannah, Mo., where together they raised four children, Nancy Vanderlip (Mack) of Tulsa, Okla.; Karen (Ruth Villarreal), Chino Hills, Calif.; Sharon (Jan Pfenninger), Anchorage, Alaska; and Don (Debbie), Chesterfield, Mo. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Moss Rudolph in 1981. She is survived by her children, brother James Robert Whitacre, Indio, Calif., and sister-in-law Marie Rudolph Saldana, Greenbrae, Calif.. Other survivors include seven grandchildren who knew her as their beloved Baba: Erik Vanderlip (Beth), Lake Oswego, Ore.; Lauren Vanderlip Lindsey (Zac), Tulsa, Okla.; John Drollinger (Rachel), Murrieta, Calif.; Susan Drollinger Forbes (Joe), Santa Rosa, Calif.; Scott Drollinger (Hanna), Atlanta, Ga.; Katelyn Rudolph, St. Charles, Mo., and Emily Rudolph, Chesterfield, Mo.. Barb is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren. Growing up in Kansas City, Barbara had a passion for art and music, becoming a concert pianist by the age of 17, and having artwork displayed in the Nelson Gallery of Art in Kansas City. She twice was promoted a grade early in elementary school, and could have graduated high school at the age of 16, until her mother decided that was too young to attend university, and added a second senior year. Barbara entered the University of Missouri in the fall of 1950, and became a devoted member of Kappa Alpha Theta. In 1980, Barbara finished her education, attending Missouri Western State College before earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri. Barb always had a passion for life, with an infectious positive spirit and a wonderful sense of humor. In Savannah, she volunteered as a Girl Scout troop leader, organized the Red Cross swim program, and taught piano lessons. She loved her Tuesday night Bridge Club and the monthly Drama Club. Her hobbies included knitting, sewing, and a German paper cutting art called scherenschnitte. In Bella Vista, her residence since 1996, she knit hundreds of caps for children at the Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, and stayed active playing bridge and golf, while being a passionate fan of Mizzou sports. As a golfer, she entered various tournaments and leagues, and in 2003, at the age of 70, recorded a hole-in-one at Berksdale Golf Course in Bella Vista. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, at Bella Vista Community Church. A gravesite service is planned for August in St. Joseph, Mo. Memorial contributions can be made to the Moss E. Rudolph Scholarship Fund, which assists students from Northwest Missouri in attending the University of Missouri. Checks can be made payable to the University of a Missouri, 407 Reynolds Alumni Center, Columbia, Mo. 65211, with a note that the gift is in memory of Mrs. Barbara Rudolph. Donors can also go to giving.missouri.edu to make a contribution. In Arkansas, memorial gifts can be made to the Circle of Life Hospice Home 1201 NE Legacy Parkway, Bentonville, Ark. 72712. Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home of Bella Vista. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.

Published June 18, 2017

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