Barbara Wharton

Wharton, Barbara of Woodbury, MN peacefully passed away on September 26, 2024. She has happily joined her husband, Keith. Barbara (nee Birdwell) was born in Big Spring, Texas, and later moved to El Paso, Texas where she graduated from Ysleta High School and then went to college at Texas Western, now the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP), where she met Keith Wharton. Keith and Barbara married on November 27, 1956. Once Keith completed his PhD, Barbara and their three children moved to Minnesota after he accepted a position with the University of Minnesota. Barbara taught exercise classes at the Shoreview YMCA. She also instructed in badminton and tennis, played golf, and bowled regularly. In the community of Roseville Barbara worked with community leaders to begin the first recycling program as well as the first senior citizen exercise classes and successfully sold Mary Kay cosmetics for many years. She began her years of travel in 1979 with The Friendship Force, an exchange program for adults established by Rosalynn Carter in 1977; Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Turkey, and Ghana were among her more memorable exchanges. She served as the president of the local chapter for several years. Barbara was a Chi Omega sorority sister, a P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) member, and in The League of Women Voters. When Keith retired from the U of M he and Barbara moved to Greensboro, NC for many years, but returned to Minnesota in 2010. Although not teaching exercise anymore, Barbara remained active, took up pickleball at age 74, and played until she was 81 - proving to the younger players that the "old lady" knew how to play. Barbara will be greatly missed by family and friends, here and abroad. A Service of Remembrance will be held on October 24, 1:30pm, at Stonecrest Presbyterian Home, 8725 Promenade Lane, Woodbury. Questions can be directed to Brenda at 651-323-7442.

Published on October 20, 2024