Barbara Ann (Pryer) Burch-Engel

Barbara Ann “Pryer” Burch-Engel, departed this life on January 5th, 2026. She was born on January 14th, 1940, in Harper Kansas to Frank and Hazel  “Armstrong” Pryer. She was the youngest of three children and was raised by her grandparents Bradford Turner B.T. and Dollie Mae “Peacock” Armstrong. Her early years involved many moves before finally settling in Wallace County in 1947.

Barbara would attend Wallace and Sharon Springs public schools and loved nursing and taking care of people. She would go on to marry Robert Lee Burch on May 3rd, 1959, and they adopted two children, Curtis Lee Burch, born April 21st , 1965 and Joy Kay “Burch” Pelton, born July 29th, 1966.

Bob and Barb worked side-by-side running businesses in Sharon Springs. In the early years, they built Sharon Springs Auto Parts, and owned Sharon Springs Oil Co. next door, an early Vickers gas station. In the early 1970’s Barbara had a record and music shop called “Barb’s Record Shop” in the same gas station. By the mid 1970’s they had sold both businesses.

Barbara had many jobs outside the home over the years. She was a volunteer EMT for the Wallace Co. Ambulance for over 20 years and worked for Prairie Manor/Good Samaritan Nursing Home for over 30 years before retiring in 2005. She loved her family and traveling. Her favorite trips were to Branson Missouri, Disney World, The Amtrak train ride to California to see her sister and dad, and the 1996 Olympics, Bob’s retirement gift. Her husband Robert died in 2000 after 41 years of marriage and she would remarry to Charles F. Engel in 2002. They were together for 11 years until his passing in 2013.

Barbara is proceeded in death by both her mother Hazel “Armstrong” Munro and father, Frank Pryer, husbands Robert Burch and Charles Engel, one stepdaughter Elizabeth Scheopner, three Grandchildren and one Great-great Grandchild, her sisters, Elaine Crites and Dorothy Backhus.

Barbara is survived by her children Curtis Burch of Cave Spring Ga, and Joy Burch “Wade” Pelton of Cheyenne Wells Co. Grandchildren Katie Pelton, Dennis Pelton, and Alisa “Pelton” “Eric” Messer. Sister-in-law Melinda “Hubele” Klein Colorado Springs Co. Stepchildren Chuck/Charles Engel “Pam” of Goodland Ks, and Roxanne Engel “Mark” Mollenkamp of Quinter KS 11 Grandchildren and 29 Great Grandchildren and 4 Great-great Grandchildren.

Memorial service will be Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 10 a.m. MT at United Methodist Church, 520 West 6th Street, Sharon Springs. Memorials may be designated to Barbara Engel Memorial Fund and may be left at the service or sent in care of Bateman Funeral Home. PO Box 278, Goodland, KS 67735.

Information and condolences www.batemanfuneral.com