Charlenne (Mcelwain) Barbour Taylor

Greensburg – Venetia Charlenne McElwain Barbour Taylor, 93, died May 13, 2015 in Scottsdale, Arizona surrounded by family and friends. Charlenne was born on March 29, 1922 in Greensburg, Kansas to Charles Williams Noble of Webb City, Missouri and Anna Elizabeth (Keller) McElwain of Greensburg, Kansas. She graduated Greensburg High School in 1940. After high school she married Glover Dell Barbour and had a son James Dell Barbour. After this brief marriage she worked for various companies in Kansas and then moved to Colorado. While in Colorado she met Allen K. Taylor of Alamosa, Colorado and on April 2, 1966 in Colorado Springs they were married. She moved to Wichita, Kansas and enjoyed a very successful career with Slawson Oil Company for over 20 years. Her greatest joys in life were her family. She spoiled them with her excellent cooking and baking and was frequently requested to provide her ‘best’ recipes. Charlenne dressed impeccable and was an avid dancer. She never turned down a request to showcase her dancing skills. She also had a beautiful singing voice and was a proud member of the Christ the King Church Choir. One of her greatest acts of love was when she was confirmed and baptized into the Catholic Church. She is survived by three grandchildren, Judi Dell Humpert and husband Donald of Columbia, Maryland, James Dell Barbour II and wife Julie of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Barbara Ann Donahue of Littleton, Colorado; four great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. She is also survived two nieces, Jacquelyn McElwain and Michelle Sturgeon and husband Tony, all of Haviland, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Charles Noble and William Victor McElwain, son James Dell Barbour, and daughter-in-law Joanne Dodge Barbour Robinson. Graveside memorial services and celebration of Charlenne’s life will be 3:30 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2015 in Fairview Cemetery, Greensburg.