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Barbara Waller Kudravetz, age 98, passed away July 25, 2020, at Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge, in Charlottesville, Virginia. She was born September 27, 1921, in Wichita, Kansas, to DeWitt Lamar and Susan (Buckner) Waller. She grew up at 809 W. York Avenue, just down the street from Enid High School where her parents both taught. Her father later became the high school principal, then superintendent of schools for 25 years until his retirement in 1958. Waller Middle School in Enid was named for him.
Her lifelong love of swimming started when she was a lifeguard at the Enid Municipal swimming pool. She and her best friend growing up, Jeane Wilmoth, spent many hours at the pool and at Dan and Bake, a short order hamburger joint where her favorite was a hamburger "all the way".
Barbara attended Gulf Park College, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She met her husband of 75 years George Kudravetz when he was a dashing young Army Air Corps flight instructor in Enid during World War II. Two of their favorite hangouts in Enid while dating were Tia Juana (with a sign out front that said "This is Not a Mexican Restaurant") and the Mickey Mouse Club, a dance hall north of town. They married May 21, 1943, and, soon after, George was posted to Caserta, Italy, for the duration of the war. Barbara remained home in Enid during this time and worked at the telephone company. When the war ended, Barbara was one of the first spouses to travel to the former war zone, joining George and living in Vienna, Austria, during the Allied occupation. Their stories and remembrances of that period are remarkable today. They were truly a part of America's Greatest Generation.
Before returning to the U.S. at age 26, Barbara had lived in or visited Vienna, Bucharest, Paris, Berlin, Rome, London, Copenhagen and Prague. During George's career in the Air Force, they lived not only in Vienna, Austria, but also in Bucharest, Romania, after World War II; in Sumter, SC; Monterey and Riverside, California; Dayton, Ohio; Wiesbaden, Germany; and Arlington, Virginia.
Barbara obtained a real estate license while living in Arlington. After graduating with a Masters in Library Science from the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., she was a librarian at Marymount College (now University) and the Madeira School. She was a White House volunteer in the office of First Lady's Correspondence during the Clinton Administration, answering Hillary Clinton's mail, a volunteer job she particularly enjoyed. She was also a volunteer at the Kennedy Center Library in Washington, D.C. Barbara was a member of Chapter T Arlington, then Chapter AQ Charlottesville, of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic and educational organization, in which she held many offices. Barbara became a P.E.O. in 1945 when her mother was President of her chapter in Enid. In Arlington, she was a member of The Falls Church (Episcopal), and in Charlottesville, of First United Methodist Church.
For nearly fifty years, Barbara and George spent summers at their home on Martha's Vineyard Island, and had many wonderful vacations traveling together. In front of their Martha's Vineyard home, she swam in the ocean, usually by herself, often several times a day, in good weather, and not-so-good, until last summer. She spent her day at the Vineyard reading, tending to her flowers while George was fishing, volunteering at the Vineyard Haven Public Library, and visiting with her neighbors and friends.
They also built a weekend home in Albemarle County near Earlysville, so they could attend countless U.Va. athletic events over the years, as faithful fans of their sons' alma mater, and to be able to visit with their granddaughter, Julia.
In retirement, Barbara and George moved in 2004 to WCBR in Charlottesville. Barbara enjoyed numerous meaningful friendships over her long life - she loved her friends and they loved her in return. Being an involved grandmamma to Julia and Tyler also brought her much joy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband George in 2019, and her sister Marilyn (Waller) Rothe. She is survived by her sons, David Waller Kudravetz (McCrea) of Earlysville; and James Douglas Kudravetz (Janet) of Arlington, VA; her two beloved granddaughters, Julia McCrea Kudravetz of Charlottesville and Tyler Frances Marcela Kudravetz (fiancé Brad Zacchero) of Baltimore; her sister-in-law Roie Kudravetz; and many nieces and nephews, including her namesake, Barbara Rothe.
A Time of Remembrance will be held at Westminster-Canterbury at a later date, due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Private burial next to her husband will be at Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara's memory may be made to Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, 2050 Lamb's Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901; Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, VA 22901; or the Waller Middle School library, 2604 W Randolph Ave, Enid, OK 73703.
Barbara's family can be contacted at P.O. Box 162 Earlysville, VA 22936.
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