Barbara A. Calder

Barbara Ann Calder, 88 of Lexington formerly of Ogallala passed away Monday, April 18, 2022 at Avamere in Lexington.

Barbara was born October 3, 1933 in Grove City, Pennsylvania to John and Dorothy (Campbell) Allison. She graduated from high school in Naperville, Illinois and the attended Northern Illinois University and Miami Of Ohio in Oxford, Ohio.

Barbara was united in marriage to Jim Calder and they lived in Detroit and Dayton, Ohio before moving to Ogallala in 1966. She worked in retail and owned The Lighthouse (a lighting store), that was located on Spruce Street and then worked at West Central Nebraska Development District, which was an economic development agency. The couple would divorce in 1982. She would later meet her partner Bob Edgar, and the couple enjoyed many years together until his passing in 2013. Barbara moved to Lexington in 2016 to be closer to her daughter, Allison Calder Luther and her family.

She was an excellent swimmer and learned to do synchronized swimming and was planning to try out for the Olympics when she was living in Chicago before an injury sidelined that endeavor. She was a founding member of the Ogallala Yacht Club, she was their first female commodore. She was instrumental as one of the founders of the Governor’s Cup Regatta at Lake McConaughy beginning in 1969 which was held every year over Labor Day. For several years the racing committee was successful in bringing the current Nebraska Governor to present the overall trophy. For many years the Governor’s Cup Regatta was the largest open sailing regatta in the country.

Barbara loved to read, playing golf, sailing, singing, and playing shuffleboard when she spent her winters in Mesa, Arizona. She was a fifty-year member of the First Congregational Church in Ogallala where she served on many committees and sang in the choir.

Survivors include two daughters: Allison (Steve) Luther of Lexington and Beth Calder of Alameda, California, granddaughters: Leah Luther of Nashville, Tennessee, Caitlyn (Justin) Drudik and their daughter Olivia of Cape Girardeau, Missouri along with numerous grand dogs over many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, John (Bud) Allison and companion, Bob Edgar.

At Barbara’s request she was cremated and there will be no service.

Memorials are suggested to the Coastal German Shepherd Rescue or the First United Presbyterian Church in Lexington.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements.  Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com