Barbara WarrinerHutchinson, KS

Barbara Warriner, 87, passed on January 18, 2026, in Hutchinson.  She was born in Hutchinson, January 3, 1939, one of eleven children born to Julius and Gladys Mueller. The Mueller family were members of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.  Most of the kids including Barbara attended the St. Theresa’s Catholic School.

After Barbara graduated from high school, she and her sister Mary moved to Kansas City where they shared an apartment and worked. Barbara was introduced to Milton Warriner, by Fred Bishop, the future husband of her sister Mary. As Milton would later tell everyone, when he met Barbara, he fell in love but was not ready to get married, so he did not ask her out again for several months. Luckily for Milton, she was still available.  After they started dating, he wasted no time. Milton and Barbara were married on September 19, 1959, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Milton and Barbara had three children, Todd Bennett, Traci Beth, and Tobin Blaine.  For fun all the kids’ initials were TBW which she eventually had made into a vanity license plate. When the kids were little, the family moved to Shawnee, Kansas. She was a stay-at-home mom, was involved in the kids’ schools, and attended all of their activities and sporting events. Barbara had no trouble meeting new friends and was always the life of the party. She became lifelong friends with many of the neighbors. She loved to entertain so when any family or neighborhood event needed a planner or a venue, Barbara always volunteered!

Barbara remained close to her family in Hutchinson where she and the kids often visited in the summers. She was particularly close to her sisters.  When the kids were older, Barbara and her sisters would travel together, usually piled into a van. They became known to some as the “twisted sisters.”  Every time they got together, they would laugh about how much fun they had on these trips.  There are too many good stories to recount.

In 1980, Barbara decided to go back to work full-time at Bayer. It was not surprising to anyone she developed friendships with anyone she met at Bayer. Many of her Bayer friends became part of her social circle and were often invited to Milton and Barbara’s house on Widmer for parties where they became part of Barbara’s extended family.

She was also a devoted grandmother to her seven grandchildren. Milton and Barbara had an open- door policy at their home!  Anyone was welcome to pop in and have a “hamburger.”   In the summers, the kids would often come by to swim.  There was always ice cream in the freezer. The kids’ friends were also always welcome.  Their home became a popular lunch venue.

Milton and Barbara remained a happily married couple for over 60 years until he passed away in 2021. Barbara was devasted, but moved into the apartment they had picked out together as the next stage of their life. This was the first time Barbara lived by herself. She enjoyed decorating the apartment and taking necessary shopping trips to get it up to the Mueller standards. Barbara always loved to shop!!  You could also catch Barbara driving around town in her yellow convertible.  Stops at Quik Trip were a daily activity along with pop-in visits with anyone who happened to be at home.

During this time, she would often visit her sister Janie Riggs and her brother Jerry Mueller, along with an assorted group of nieces and nephews in Hutchinson. She decided to move back to Hutchinson to live with Janie and Jerry.  This gave her another opportunity to redecorate. The Moose Lodge was a favorite as well as iced tea at the Quik Shop. Amelia’s was a frequent stop.  She was such a regular, everyone knew her name. She also loved to read so she became well known at the library.

She fell ill around Christmas and never fully recovered. She spent her last days in Hospice House in Hutchinson.

Barbara is survived by her children:  Todd and Joyce Warriner, Traci and Louie Kronawitter and Tobin and Teresa Warriner;  her seven grandchildren, Amanda (Matt), Tiffany (Michelle), Austin (Lea), Morgan (Hayden), Christian, Jonathon and Elizabeth;  two great grandchildren, Austin Louis Jr  and Charlotte; her remaining siblings: Janie Riggs, Jerry Mueller, both of Hutchinson and Ken Mueller of Scottsdale, Arizona along with her sisters-in-law Patty Morrissey and Mildred Goucher; and all of her nieces and nephews who she treasured.

Services for Barbara will be Friday, January 30, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee, Kansas. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am, followed by the praying of the Rosary at 11:45 am and Mass at noon. Lunch will be served following Mass in the basement of the church.

Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main St, Hutchinson, KS  67501, was responsible for assisting the family.