Lorena V. Barcus Antrim was born November 30, 1915 on a farm near Preston and Pratt in southern, Kansas. She was one of eleven children born to James Martin and Ella Mabel Coburn Barcus. One brother passed away from whooping cough so she grew up with only nine brothers and sisters: Vernon, Ena, Myron, Vaughn, Joy, Loretta, Marguerite, Geraline and Jim. Lorena attended elementary school in Preston. She attended High School at Spivey where she met her future husband, Philip Antrim. Lorena was the first in her family to attend college. She and Phil both began college at Southwestern College in Winfield. She earned her teaching certificate at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas and taught school for 2 years at Nashville, Kansas and then Preston, while Phil was completing his 3rd and 4th year of college.

On June 3, 1938, Lorena and Philip Antrim were united in marriage at Preston, Kansas. After the wedding they moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where Phil started Medical School at KU. During this time, Lorena worked as a secretary for the head of the biochemistry department. Phil's two clinical years were held at KU Rainbow Medical Center in Kansas City where Lorena continued secretarial work for the head of the Nursing Department. In 1941, Philip graduated from Medical School and they moved to Wichita, Kansas for his internship at St. Francis Hospital. In 1942, they were blessed with their first daughter, Phyllis. They moved to Birmingham, Alabama for Phil's surgical residency.

During World War II, Phil went into the Army and Lorena and Phyllis stayed in Attica with Phil's parents, Ray and Jennie Antrim. When Phil returned home with a bronze star and cluster, in 1945, they moved to Anthony, Kansas. In 1947, the family moved to Tooele, Utah, to be closer to Lorena's mother after the passing of her father. In 1950, they were blessed with their second daughter, Susan, and blessed again when Karen was born in 1951, completing their family. In 1955, Lorena's mother passed away and the family moved to Russell County, Kansas to live on Grandpa Ray Antrim's ranch, before eventually moving into Russell. In 1957, when Attica needed a doctor, they moved once again so they could be near Phil's parents. Phil and Lorena eventually moved to Anthony.

Over the years, Lorena saw and lived through many historical events including the depression, the dust bowl, and World War II. Her knowledge of life was endless, as she witnessed many changes, inventions and improvements to living life in the 20th and 21st centuries. Over the years, she and Phil visited National Parks such as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, the Sequoias, Bryce and Zion, but most often enjoyed time fishing in Colorado, Louisiana and Minnesota. They traveled to France and the Philippines, as well as Hawaii, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles and New Orleans.

Lorena was a lifelong devoted member of the Church of Christ, as her family had donated the ground for the Preston Church of Christ. She and Phil attended the Anthony Church of Christ for many, many years. She was also a member of the Attica and Harper Art Guild, creating watercolor and pastel paintings of landscapes and flowers, and taught children's art classes. Besides painting and clay work, an unusual project she enjoyed was fish printing.

In July of 2008, Phil passed away, leaving Lorena heartbroken after 70 years of love and dedication to one another.

On April 17, 2018, Lorena passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family at the age of 102 years, 5 months and 17 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; her siblings; and one grandson, Darren Boden.

Lorena will always be remembered as a wonderful and loving wife, mother and grandmother, a great gardener, fisherwoman, cook, teacher and artist.

She will live on forever in the hearts of her daughters: Phyllis Antrim Anderson and husband, Moore, Susan Antrim Phelps and Karen Antrim Taylor and husband, Jock; 10 grandchildren: Wynn Anderson, Lorene Anderson and husband, Ash, Justin Cauntay and wife, Rachel, Landon Cauntay and wife, Ashley, Kevin Cauntay and wife, Jaime, Brodie Ryan and wife, Bianca Kamnitzer, Alyson Phelps Watson and husband, Eric, Amanda Phelps Ibarra and husband, Adrian, Alissa Phelps and Heather Taylor Salem; 12 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 23, 2018 at the Church of Christ in Anthony, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Cleveland Cemetery, Cleveland, Kansas (southwest of Kingman).

Visitation will be held 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony.

Memorials to the Church of Christ or the Harper County Health Department c/o the funeral home.

Source: prairierosefuneralhomes.com