Heaven has gained its brightest and warmest angel when Barbara Ann Walter, Springfield, left this earth on November 29, 2011, while her family has lost the most wonderful and compassionate wife and mother. Her friends have lost a most caring,humorous and joyful confidant. Barbara led a varied and fulfilling career dedicated to underprivileged public school children as a counselor, educator and diagnostician. An expert on the Education of All Handicapped Children Act, she taught and lectured at a variety of educational institutions in Missouri before retiring from Springfield Public Schools. She held multiple certifications that enabled her to teach and counsel all levels and serve every child including the mentally challenged and gifted. These included school psychologist,psychological examiner and principal. Three key events stand out in Barbara's mind as highlights in her career. Author David Melton featured Barbara in his book Todd: A Father's Story about one of her students. While working several days a week with an eight-year-old boy in play therapy for almost a year, the child began to talk. He had stopped talking when he was three years old. Her last several years of counseling were spent at public schools in northwest Springfield with principal Charles Nickel leading a team of teachers and staff as a family of fun, loving and nurturing people to create a most positive learning environment for the children and parents. Participating in and leading a variety of civic, social, church and Democrat clubs kept her busy her. Messiah Lutheran Church (including various care groups), PFLAGSpringfield chapter, a Greenwood retired faculty group, Springfield Symphony Guild, president of Springfield Swim Club, Junior League, FDR Club, and Senior Democrats Club are just a few. Traveling with her husband and son to learn about history, different cultures and meet new people brought her great joy as well as boating on Table Rock Lake. Playing bridge with her decades-long friends kept her laughing until her sides hurt. This was her weekly highlight. Born on February 20, 1940 in Jefferson City, Mo., Barbara graduated from Jefferson City Senior High School as salutatorian, after being prom queen, fire baton twirler, lead twirler for the high school band, honor society member and playing first chair alto saxophone all four years. At commencement, she won the following honors: the prestigious Daughters of American Revolution Citizenship and Leadership Award, the Music Award, the History Award, and the Latin Award. Barbara was first runner up in the Miss Missouri pageant winning the talent, swimsuit and evening gown contests. She studied classical piano under the tutelage of Elizabeth Jaeger, originally of Vienna,Austria, outside of school. These classical piano lessons were later continued at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Barbara appeared on The Jack Parr Show, performing her two fire batons ballet routine. At the University of Missouri-Columbia she was elected to Lambda Alpha Theta, an educational honor society, and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta social sorority. She was the featured twirler of the Marching Mizzou and president of the Exceptional Children Organization. While serving on the Student Union board, Barbara met her future husband Ken. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in three years and then earned her Master of Science degree in Special Education Administration from MU. In later years, Barbara completed all the requirements for her doctorate, except for writing dissertation. Barbara's lionhearted campaign against pancreatic cancer hindered her from living to her full potential in her last years but never stopped her before she finally rested peacefully at age 71 comforted by her husband, son and dog Toby in her home. Husband of 49 years, Kenneth Walter, Springfield, and her son Christopher Walter,Dallas, Tex., survive her. Her "adopted" Texas sons, Gil Lasaca, Gus Lopez, Eric Chern and Preston Lane will also miss her greatly. She is preceded in death by her fraternal twin Beverly, her brother Donald and her parents Roy and Marie Scheperle. A celebration of Barbara's life was held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Springfield, Mo. on December 3, 2011. Interment will be on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.at Restland Memorial Park, 9220 Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243. A reception will follow at 3:00 p.m. at a private residence in Dallas. Her husband and son thank all her friends and neighbors for their unwavering support,flowers, cards and food during her long illness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Messiah Lutheran Church Building Fund,925 E. Seminole Street, Springfield, Mo. 65738, or KSMU, Ozark Public Radio, 901 S.National Avenue, Springfield, Mo. 65897