Barbara Lou Heck, 85, of Valley Center, passed away on Saturday,  December 13, 2025 following a lengthy battle with dementia. She spent 61 years with her husband, Kermit, before his passing in January 2021.

Barbara and Kermit enjoyed traveling and in their retirement years spent part of the winter months enjoying the warmer weather in Galveston, Texas. They also enjoyed taking part in the activities their grandkids and later great grandkids were involved with.

Barbara enjoyed painting, arts and crafts. She had quite the green thumb and was a source of expertise on how to take care of plants. Barbara loved to cook and enjoyed baking. She spent  15 years working in the bakery for retailer Meijer near Brookville, Ohio where she lived for 34 years. Barbara and Kermit moved to Pueblo West, Colorado after he retired in 1996. They spent 17 years there before moving to Wichita to be closer to family.

Barbara is survived by her sister Norma Behnken (Glen); brother Roger Hawley; two children, Ed Heck (Sharon) and Marilin Oakley (Mark); two grandchildren, Josh Heck (Andrea) and Stephanie Martinez (Jason Clark); and five great grandchildren, Zavier, Cayman, Addyson, Carsen and Kenadie.

A visitation for family and friends will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23 at Baker Funeral Home in Valley Center, 100 S. Cedar. Interment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made on her behalf to Home Health & Hospice of Kansas, 7607 E. Harry Street, Wichita, KS.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com.