Barbara A. Killian
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Barbara A. Killian
November 29, 1941 - February 5, 2011
Barbara Ann Drennen Killian, 69, of Beaumont passed away Saturday, February 5, 2011, after a courageous ten year battle with breast cancer. She peacefully departed this life with her family by her side at the Harbor Hospice in Beaumont.
Born on November 29, 1941, in Upland, Pennsylvania, Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Robert B. Drennen and Bernice Koppenhaver Drennen, as well as her sister, Sandra M. Montag. She is survived by her beloved husband of forty-eight years, A. Stanley Killian, Jr.; her son, Robert Gregory Killian and his wife Eisha of Beaumont; her daughter, Heather Killian Johnson and her husband Steve of Woking, England; and her three precious grandchildren, Kelsey Killian Johnson, Carly Colleen Johnson and Tristan Caius Killian.
Barbara grew up in Chester, Pennsylvania and graduated from Chester High School in 1959. She married her high school sweetheart Stan “Butch”, also of Chester in 1962. After graduation, she worked in the data processing section of the State Farm Insurance Mid-Atlantic Office until 1966, when she and Stan started their family. Barbara and Stan moved to Wilmington, Delaware in 1964 and resided there until their family was eventually transferred to Beaumont in 1973.
While Barbara chose to quit her job in order to raise her family, she made motherhood her full-time profession. Always one to actively participate in her children’s activities, Barbara served on the PTAs of Sallie Curtis Elementary, Marshall Middle School and West Brook High School, as well as being a member of the Beaumont Aggie Moms Club. She could always be found on the sidelines or in the bleachers for her son’s football and baseball games. She served on the West End Little League Ladies Auxiliary Board for three years and was always on hand to assist her husband coaching Greg’s Little League teams.
Although Barbara always thought of herself as a “Yankee”, she was very involved in the Beaumont community. Along side her husband, she served as a Voting Precinct 73 Election Clerk for eight years. She also spent several seasons working with Beaumont Symphony league’s Symphony of Trees. And she was also a member of Wesley United Methodist Church.
After her initial diagnosis of breast cancer in 2000, Barbara channeled her energies into volunteer efforts for the cause. She served as a patient advisor for the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program and supported the events of the Julie Rogers Gift of Life. She was a regular participant in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Houston, with her family always by her side.
As those who knew her can attest, Barbara could never stay still for any length of time. She was regularly seen riding her bike, washing her cars, tending to her home, blowing leaves, picking weeds or mowing the lawn. She was meticulous about her home, passionate about her dogs and dedicated to her family. Affectionately known as Nana to her three grandchildren, she was thought to be the “coolest” grandmother around, often seen around town driving her VW convertible Beetle with her Yorkshire terrier, Max.
The Killian family would like to thank the wonderful nursing staff at the Christus St. Elizabeth’s Neuro ICU, the dedicated and compassionate team at the Harbor Hospice, and Dr. Scott McKenney for all of their incredible effort and kindness in Barbara’s last few weeks.
Her funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 10, 2011, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, under the direction of Broussard’s. A gathering of her family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, Texas 75265-0309 or the Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
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