Barbara Whitfield

Barbara J. Whitfield, age 90, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Seminole, Oklahoma. She was born March 12, 1929 in McAlester, Oklahoma to parents Chester Eli Ketchum and Bertha (Whorton) Ketchum. She grew up in Indianola and graduated from high school. Barbara married Clyde Whitfield on March 30, 1948 in McAlester, Oklahoma. When they were first married, she worked as a secretary at a goat dairy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Later she worked at two nursing homes in McAlester. She retired after working for twenty years at the McAlester Hospital and received many awards for her hard work. Before working outside the home, she helped her husband in the peanut field and cooked lunch for 15-20 people when working cattle. She enjoyed fishing, camping and cooking. Barbara is survived by her son Carl Whitfield and his wife Marilyn of Seminole, Oklahoma, daughters; Donna Rogers of McAlester, Oklahoma and Terri Whitfield of Warsaw, Indiana, six grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clyde Whitfield, who passed away on December 14, 2011, two brothers, one sister and two grandsons. Graveside services will be at 1:00 P.M. Friday, January 3, 2020 at Choate Prairie Cemetery in Indianola, Oklahoma with Rev. Fred Morrison officiating. Barbara's grandchildren will be Honorary Casket Bearers. Arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: January 3, 2020, 1:00 PM