Barnard, Virginia Lee, Our Mom, Grandma, GG, Aunt, and friend died on Thursday, November 3, 2016. Born in Tulsa August 1, 1925 Virginia Lee Barnard was a woman of small stature who lived large. During WWII she was Rosie The Riveter building aircraft at Douglas in Tulsa and Gruman in California. One of hundreds of thousands of women who stepped up to do what was necessary to defeat the axis powers. Later she ran the Tulsa office of Tom Hicks Transfer, an oil field trucking firm and was part owner of Smith Tank Co., a manufacturer of heavy steel containers. She was a woman working in a man's world of truck drivers and welders, earning their respect by doing her job and doing it well without asking for any special consideration. More recently she owned two retail businesses; a small gasoline retailer which she started from nothing and with nothing and built a profitable business, and at 80 she purchased a struggling liquor store in a tough part of town and made a silk purse from a sow's ear. At 86 she was working 30 hours a week.


She was tenacious, a pit bull of a woman who never gave up. And her final days were no different than any of her others. If we had dug her grave every time they told us she was through we would be in China by now. Dylan Thomas would have been proud of her.


She leaves Randy and Gina, Diana, Staci and Keith, Saben, Trent and Katherine, Leo, Kevin and Linda, Phillip and Michaeal. Those waiting for her are too numerous, just know they are anxious to see her and we are sad to see her go.


She was able to transition from this life with the gift of dignity thanks to Teresa and Jacki from Millennium Hospice and the people at Clarehouse. Had I the talent of Shakespeare I could not begin to describe the depth of love and compassion shown to her by these amazing women during her last days. We will be eternally grateful to these wonderful human beings.


One can visit at Moore's Southlawn through Monday from 8AM-8PM. There will be a graveside service Tuesday at 1 PM at Memorial Park Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers one can make a donation to Clarehouse. And if you do not know Clarehouse go out and see what these wonderful people do, it will make your heart sing. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com