Cover photo for Barbara Jean Wait's Obituary
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In Memory Of
Barbara Jean Wait
1946 2024

Barbara Jean Wait

March 16, 1946 — March 9, 2024

Barbara Jean Wait, 77, of Norton KS, passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

She was born March 16, 1946, in Lenora, KS, the daughter of Richard Louis and Golda Nadine (Breeden) Eldridge. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University in January of 1969.

Her teaching career began in 1969 when she worked as an instructor for the Summer Migrant Program and as a 6th grade teacher in Sublette, KS. It was during her teaching career in Sublette that Barbara met Raymond Duane Wait. They married on September 17, 1975. This marriage bore two children; Raymond Duane Wait II and Angela Dalene Wait. In May 1978, Barbara took a substitute position for the Hill City, Logan, and Lenora school districts. She then accepted a position as a Home Bound Instructor until her work took her to teach 8th grade in Hill City. While employed within the Hill City district she also taught 5th through 8th grades, freshman, and Special English. She wound up taking a position in Lenora, KS in 1983 teaching elementary and Jr High levels throughout her employment there. In 1990, she took a position as an instructor at Colby Community College. In 1991 she worked through North Central Kansas Technical College Beloit as an instructor for the Norton Community Correctional Program assisting inmates with obtaining their sought-after GED.

Barbara was an educator at heart and enjoyed being able to enrich the lives of those whom she taught. She was also a proud wife, parent and pet owner even writing a book to entail the joy of adopting a dog from the Norton Corrections dog training program.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Nadine Eldridge; sisters Norma June Eldridge of Concordia, KS and Donna Lee Eldridge of Norton, KS. Survivors include son, Raymond (RD), his wife Rikki and their children Rayanne, Jessi, Cody and Alise of Norton, KS; daughter Angela Ndhlovu, her husband Panji and their children Malaika, Ethyn and Samson (Jelani) of Topeka, KS.

Barbara was cremated. A memorial ceremony will be held at a later date. Interment of the cremated remains will be at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at WaKeeney, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Solutions North Bank PO Box 383 Norton, KS 67654.

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