Barbara Delavan, 77, of Leavenworth passed away October 19, 2022, at 9:15 a.m. She was born to Theresia “Dollie” Ryan and Eugene D. “Gene” Ryan on October 20, 1944, in Leavenworth, Kan.
She attended the old Franklin Grade School and then graduated with the Leavenworth High School class of 1962. Barbara attended St. Mary College and was employed at the Command and General Staff College for several years in Leavenworth. In 1966, Barbara then transferred to the U.S. Communications Zone Europe in Orleans, France, where she married. She later moved to Philadelphia, Penn., where her first son, John, was born in 1969. In 1970, a second son, David was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. When the boys were in grade school, the family moved to Denver, Colo., in 1978. While in Colorado, she worked for OSHA; divorced; and then later retired from Federal service in 1996.
In 2010, Barbara, who was visiting in Leavenworth, Kan., was introduced by family to Ret. U.S. Army Col. Patrick N. Delavan. Barbara moved back to Kansas to marry Pat. Barbara liked to say that she and Pat were two divorced Catholics, married in a Methodist church by a Baptist minister, the Reverend Ronald Jones.
She loved to paint, play piano, watch the birds on the deck and all the dogs in her life.
Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Col. Patrick N. Delavan; his son, Clark (Janice) Delavan and other Delavan family members; Barbara’s sons, John and David (Teresa) Wendelburg and Teresa’s other family members: brother, David (Sue) Ryan and their children, Robby Ryan and Rachel (Joseph) Ryan Toth, and great-nephew Trey; sister, Mary T. Ryan; brother, Tom (Trish) Ryan and their children, Jennifer, Lisa (Roberto) Morales, Tonya (Jason) Capps, Navy Chief Jason (Jessica) Ryan, and twins Joel and Jeremy (Rebecca) Ryan, and Tom’s eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, October 27, 2022, at R.L. Leintz Funeral Home, 4701 10th Ave., Leavenworth. A funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. Friday, October 28, 2022, at Southern Heights United Methodist Church, 726 Muncie Rd., Leavenworth. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made to: Airedale Terrier Rescue at aire-rescue.org; Scottish Terrier Rescue at stlouisscottierescue.com or generously feed birdseed to the birds.