Barbara Searle Henthorn

Barbara was born in Cincinnati, Ohio; twelve minutes after her twin sister, Patricia. The girls were welcomed by their mother, Anna, their father, Clark, and their older brother Victor.

Her father was a chemist who worked for Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati and then joined the Army Chemical Corps during the Second World War. After the war, he was stationed in Yokohama, Japan where she received her high school diploma from Yokohama American High School.

After graduation, she returned to Norman, Oklahoma to attend the University of Oklahoma to study nursing. She was one of the first three students in Oklahoma to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She later received a Master of Public Health and a Doctor of Public Heath from OU.

During her undergraduate studies, she met her husband, Robert Lester Henthorn. They were married in 1954 and had two children, Susan Henthorn Hurst and Richard Clark Henthorn.

In 1969, Barbara became an instructor in the University of Central Oklahoma Department of Nursing, retiring as Chairperson of the Department in 1991.

After retirement, she and her husband Bob loved to travel with her sister, Pat, and her husband, Bill. She also learned to do beading, creating beautiful jewelry which she sold at craft fairs. Barbara also taught others to bead and attended beading festivals where she made many friends.

She was active in many ministries at First Christian Church of Edmond: singing in the choir, serving as an Elder, creating and serving in the Parish Nurse program, and serving as a Stephen Minister.

Barbara also began writing daily devotions and sending them to friends and family, who often sent them on to others, touching the lives and hearts of many people.

She is survived by her daughter Susan Hurst, daughter-in-law Deann Henthorn, granddaughters Rebecca Hurst Larson, Katherine Elizabeth Prewitt and grandson Matthew Michael Henthorn, step-granddaughter Amy Simmons and eight great grandchildren.

Barbara’s light touched so many during the seasons of her life. She is loved and missed by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held for Barbara on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at First Christian Church in Edmond. Inurnment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.