Barbara J. Wayt, 81, passed away Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Barbara was born on Oct. 3, 1941, in Long Beach, California, to Kenneth and Dorothy (Porter) Capps. Barbara was born while her father was stationed at Pearl Harbor.
As a Navy daughter, she became accustomed to living in new places and split the majority of her school-age years between Guam; Norfolk, Virginia; Bremerton, Washington; and Corpus Christi, Texas, where her father retired from the Navy.
They moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where she remained until graduating from Fort Smith Northside High School in 1960.
She met and married her husband, Billie Wayt, in 1960 and they began his military career in Altus, Oklahoma.
As an Air Force wife,
Oct. 3, 1941 – July 11, 2023
Barbara made a home for her family in Jacksonville, Arkansas; Fort Smith, Arkansas; Muskegon, Michigan; Fairfield, California; Las Vegas, Nevada and Valdosta, Georgia.
After civilian retirement, Barbara and her husband moved to Checotah, Oklahoma, to live life on the lake.
Barbara loved her family, her extended family and most especially her “Granddogs” Maddux, Bullwinkle and Rockie and her four cats.
She loved to travel and had the privilege of traveling the world with her husband and daughter. They were so proud to have traveled to all 50 states and multiple countries on three continents.
She didn’t quite share her husband and daughters love for baseball, but she humored them by attending baseball games in many MLB stadiums.
She loved talking on the phone and would spend hours talking to her sisters, daughter, son, aunts and friends.
Barbara was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign War Auxiliary, Eufaula, Post #8798.
She was an avid reader.
Barbara is survived by her husband Billie Wayt of the home; daughter, Lisa Wayt of Edmond, Okla.; son, Randall B. Wayt and wife Barbie of Dewar, Okla.; grandchildren, Jennifer Chance and spouse James, Chris Habener and spouse Brittany; great- grandchildren, Hailey Chance, Brooke Chance, Carter Chance, Cheyenne Habener and Annalyn Habener; siblings: Louise Archambeau and spouse Dave, of Mi., Dennis Capps and spouse Cindy, John Capps and spouse Geraldine, all of Van Buren, Ark.; Tom Capps and spouse Barbara, of Tennessee; Eilene Couch and spouse Bill, of Greenwood, Ark.; Jane Gunkel and spouse Dave, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Dorothy Capps; and one sister, Linda Beauchamp.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m., Monday, July 17, 2023 at the Kelley Memorial Chapel with Chaplain Frank Pendleton officiating. Burial was at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at the Fort Smith National Cemetery under the direction of Hunn, Black & Merritt Funeral Home & Crematory.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 8798, P.O. Box 823 Eufaula, Oklahoma 74432. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hbmfuneralhome. com.
