Loretta Barnard Colvin

LORETTA BARNARD COLVIN Loretta Barnard Colvin, age 88, died March 11, 2014, at her Paola home. She was born in LaCygne, Kansas December 28, 1925, the oldest of six children of Ernest and Fadelina Conley Butts. She grew up in LaCygne and graduated as valedictorian with the LaCygne High School class of 1944. She immediately began a course of study for a provisional teaching certificate and spent much of the next 20 years earning college hours in the field of education. She began her teaching career in Linn County rural schools where she taught elementary grades. She spent another year at Eureka, Kansas before hiring on with USD #368 in Paola. There, she served as classroom instructor, curriculum coordinator and elementary principal. She also taught adults for KSTC of Pittsburg and Fort Scott Community College. She married George Barnard on May 22, 1947. Five years later, his nephew, 12-year-old Gary Barnard, joined their family. Loretta continued to work as a teacher, curriculum coordinator and elementary school principal. She completed a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science and an Education Specialist degree in elementary education and administration from Kansas State College of Pittsburg. She also earned additional college credit hours from Emporia State University, Kansas State University and Pittsburg State University. Mr. Barnard passed away in 1986 and Loretta"s teaching "became her life." Then, on November 25, 2000, she married Paul Colvin. She continued "going to school," as a 22-year volunteer in elementary classrooms in Paola and Hillsdale. She was actively volunteering when she became ill. As a result of her leadership and community participation, Loretta received many honors. For her service to education, she was selected as a Master Teacher by the Kansas National Teachers" Association, a USD #368 Master Teacher, a Distinguished Educator by the Institute for Development of Education Activities and "A Friend of Education" by the Kansas Assn. of Elementary School Principals and by USD #368. In addition, she was awarded the USD #368 Endowment Association Service Award and the best of all " induction into the Kansas Teachers" Hall of Fame. These professional honors do not include her many service and certificate awards or the fact that her expertise allowed her to be invited to author a chapter about teaching social studies to handicapped children, a work which was included in an NEA publication. Her professional memberships included the National Education Association, the Kansas and Paola Education Associations, the Kansas Assn. of Middle Level Educators and the Kansas Assn. of Elementary School Principals. Her philanthropy also extended into education as she contributed to a Teachers" Fund through the Paola School District in 2002. That fund has grown with a contribution from Martha and John Roman. It is used to defray classroom expenses for teachers and students. Mrs. Colvin was a member of the First Baptist Church of Paola where she wore many hats, including that of chair of the Agape Fund, assisting the needy. She was chair of the USD #368 Endowment Assn. Scholarship Committee. She served Parents University, Paola Middle School and the Kansas Day Committee as an active member. She was an officer and a life member of the Osawatomie-Paola branch of the American Association of University Women, recognized as their outstanding member. She was vice-president of the LaCygne Rural High School Alumni Assn. and served Delta Kappa Gamma, the Paola Lions Club and the Business and Professional Women"s Club of Paola as an officer. In addition, she was a life member of the East Central Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel, a director for the Miami County American Red Cross, a leader for the Santa Fe Trail Council of Girl Scouts and an advisory council member for the Foster Grandparents program. Still, this list is not complete. This popular citizen of Miami and Linn Counties was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, her sisters Delores Butts and Ernestine Larson and a nephew Randy Larson. She is survived by her husband Paul, her nephew Gary Barnard, one step-daughter Paula Kay Younger, sister Estalene Beaman, brothers Edwin and Richard Butts, two step-granddaughters, five step-grandchildren, ten nieces and nephews, numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews and a host of friends, school coworkers and former students whose lives were enriched by her belief that "everyone is special and has a contribution to make." In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Roman-Barnard Teachers Fund, c/o Paola USD #368 Endowment Assn., 1115 E. 303 St. Paola, KS 66071. To leave a memory of Loretta or a condolence message for her family, please click the Share Memories tab above. Paola First Baptist Church Service: Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 10:30 AM Visitation: Saturday, March 15, 2014 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM