Barbara F. Wooten

Barbara Finch Wooten, 81, passed peacefully on Monday afternoon, July 6, at her home in Edmond Oklahoma. Born to Orbie T. and Annie Ruth Finch in Tuska , Oklahoma, Barbara spent part of her childhood in Oklahoma, then later moved with her family to California. The family returned to Atoka, Oklahoma, where Barbara graduated high school. She attended the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, and lived in Oklahoma City until 1962, when she moved to Tulsa with her daughters Sheridan and Elizabeth. While in Tulsa, Barbara began what would become a long and successful career in banking. She started as a teller at Mercantile Bank, and quickly rose to become a Vice President. While in Tulsa, she met John Wesley Wooten, of Abilene Texas. Barbara and John were married in 1976. They moved to Abilene, where she and John began their lives together, and continued their careers in banking. Barbara loved Abilene, and she made loving and lasting friendships with many wonderful people, who welcomed and embraced her. She lived in Abilene until John's death in 2005, when she returned to Edmond, Oklahoma to be near her daughters and her grand-daughter, Erin, who was the light of her life. Barbara and her beloved sister Virginia lived together in Edmond, surrounded by loving family and their precious dogs Greta and Honey. Barbara loved to read, and she spent many hours reading and studying the Bible. She had a beautiful voice, and cherished the times she spent gathered around the piano while Ruth Wooten played, and Barbara sang her favorite songs and hymns. Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, her husband John Wooten, her nephew David Mofield, and her mother and father-in-law, Ruth and Dub Wooten. She is survived by her daughters Sheridan Kay Riley, and Elizabeth Riley Castleberry, her sisters Virginia Lawson and Jan Lee (Robert), her grand-daughter Erin Castleberry, her nephews Dennis Mofield (Cynthia) Glen Mofield, and Gary Mofield, and numerous other nieces, great nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Sunday July 12, at the Elmwood Funeral Home in Abilene, Texas, where family will be present from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Services are Monday July 13 at 10:00 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of Heavenly Rest in Abilene. Barbara will be laid to rest at the Elmwood Memorial Cemetery, next to her loving husband John.