Obituaries: Raynal Barber, Wanda Fowler

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Raynal Bell Barber, 80, Nov. 23 in Dallas. In 1966, Barber began a 27-year teaching career at Dallas Baptist University. She was the school’s first distinguished university professor and was chair of the department of English and foreign languages. An acknowledged expert in the writings of British author C.S. Lewis, she developed a class at DBU on the subject. Raynal BarberThe DBU board of trustees named her professor emeritus in 2010. During the 1980s, she was host of a book review program on Christian radio station KCBI. She was a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church of Oak Cliff in Dallas, where she taught a Sunday school class many years. Born in Gurdon, Ark., Sept. 1, 1935, she grew up in Little Rock, where she graduated from Little Rock High School in 1953. Barber received her undergraduate education at Ouachita Baptist College and earned a master’s degree and doctoral degree from Texas Christian University. She was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, William A. Barber Jr., formerly of the Texas 5th District Court of Appeals at Dallas. She is survived by her daughters, Anna Barber of Linden and Grace Barber-Jordan of Cedar Park; a son, John Barber of Dallas; and grandchildren, Catherine and Madeline Jordan.

Wanda Orrick Fowler, 84, Dec. 18 in San Antonio. wanda fowler130Wanda FowlerShe earned an education degree from Howard Payne University and said she felt “called to be a pastor’s wife.” A gifted pianist and gentle soul, she assumed her calling in 1951, when she married J.B. Fowler Jr. They served churches in Van, Moran, Ballinger and Lubbock, as well as McComb, Miss., and for 13 years, he was editor of the Baptist New Mexican newspaper. She is survived by her husband of 65 years; sons, Bruce and David; sister, Katherine Richardson; a grandson, Reid Fowler; and a great-granddaughter, Emma Fowler.


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