Barbara Jean Lucas
Born: October 24th, 1933
Died: June 10th, 2023
Obituary
Barbara Lucas, our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, and friend to many of her co-workers and members of many communities passed peacefully on June 10, 2023, after a beautiful life longed lived. Barbara was born on October 24, 1933, to Jeptha Ivan Stone and Rowena Matthews Stone in Turlock, CA. After living in Marysville for a short time, the family found their way to Shafter, CA, when at the age of sixteen, Barbara lost her father to a farm accident, but within a few years her mother Rowena married farmer David Merkel who became the best Step-father and Grandfather any family could have dreamed. At the age of sixteen, Mom also began a 70-year working career, first at the Shafter Theater, on to Bank of America in Wasco after her 1954 marriage to Edwin Lucas of Wasco. She loved bookkeeping and held positions at Fred West and Associates, Tops Market, Lost Hills Chevron, and Wasco Realty. In 1956 their first son David was born and then in 1958 Dale filled our family of four.
Community involvement was one passion she enjoyed, becoming the treasurer of the Wasco Community Scholarship Association committee as well as the Wasco Historical Society. Another hobby was photography/videotaping. Starting in 1970, and continuing for 50 years, Mom would attend her sons’ athletic events taking pictures and videotaping games, which then led to her continuing to do the same for many athletes passing through Wasco High School as well as other high schools in Kern County. Her family pictures were countless. She never met a person she wouldn’t take pictures for, leading to her being asked to capture many weddings and quinceaneras, giving families special memories to cherish.
Her true passion was her grandchildren. She would take them to movies, buy the latest best-selling children’s books, babysit, help with college expenses, and take them to special shows in Bakersfield, as well as too many special things to note. After falling in love with visiting New York with best friend Margie Haworth, she took many trips taking friends to show them the sites and the Broadway plays. Her goal, which she accomplished in 2003, was to take her two sons’ families to a New Years trip week to the Big Apple, showing them the beautiful sites, running around Manhattan, and taking in a few plays. It was the vacation of a lifetime and she loved that she could accomplish it.
Knowing Mom, she would thank the community of Wasco and surrounding areas, as well, for allowing her to be a part of them in so many ways. For all of her community involvement she received a Paul Harris Fellow recognition from the Rotary Club, was inducted into the Wasco High Athletic Hall of Fame for her contribution to Wasco High Athletics, recognized by Kern Council of Governments for community involvement, and was a former Grand Marshall of the Wasco Festival of Roses.
Barbara was preceded in death by parents Jeptha and Rowena; Step-father David Merkel; and brother Harvey Merkel; and survived by sons David (Tonya); Dale (Kristi); Ray Besser (Ivy);Grandson Christian Lucas; Granddaughters Stefanie Lucas-Waverly (Brett); Melissa Lucas (Jason Chang); Alyssa Lujan (John Michalak); Cati Lujan Henry (Charlie); special Great Grandson Callen Lucas Waverly; nephews Richard and Robert Merkel; and niece Renee Hampton; special Sister-in -Law Irene Merkel (Don McGinnis); and her wonderfull adopted-like son Milt Stowe (Lori
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Wasco Community Scholarship Association, P.O. Box 7, Wasco, CA 93280, or a charity of your choice.
A video viewing will be held Monday June 19 at Peters Funeral Home in Wasco. 1401 7th Street, from 4PM-8PM and a gravesite service will be held Tuesday, June 20th at the Wasco Cemetery 300 Leonard Avenue, Wasco, CA, 93280 at 10:00AM.