Barbara (Buckbee) Thompson of Ellinwood will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house from 2-5 p.m. on Aug. 25 at the Immanuel United Church of Christ, 701 N. Fritz Ave. in Ellinwood. Hosts will be her children, Debbie and Ron Jackson, Great Bend; Sandy and Von Parke, Ellinwood; Robin and Duane Waters, Wellfleet, Neb.; Lori and Rick Thomas, Ellinwood; and Brian and Tammie Buckbee, Ellinwood.

Barbara has nine grandchildren, Sarah and Eric McMillan, Phillip Jackson, Ethan and Ashlie Thomas, Mackenzie Messick, Reba Thomas, Oma Thomas, Garrett Buckbee, Becca Parke and Kate Buckbee, along with her nine great-grandchildren, Ava, Kylie, Lane and Jackson, Aiden and Oaklyn and Makynna, Molly and Mylee.

Barbara was born Aug. 27, 1938, in Enid, Okla., to Francis and Ethel Deweese. She grew up in Chase and on June 2, 1956, she married Bill Buckbee. They farmed south of Ellinwood and raised five children. After celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Bill passed away in 2006. Barbara was married to Kermit Thompson and he passed away in 2009.