Class of 1944
1944 Graduation EditionPerry Daily Journal
Barbara Wichmann
– daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Wichmann, 1311 Delaware, was born in Old Mexico, July 12, 1926.
Barbara attended grade schools at Tulsa, Earlsboro, and Wirt. Before coming to Perry she attended highschool at McPherson, Kansas. She is a member of the Catholic Study church, the Red Hots, and the RRF club.
She was secretary of the Red Hots from 1942 until this year. Barbara was also a member of the cast of “The House Without a Key,” the senior play presented this year.
After her graduation, Barbara plans to attend Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kansas.
Barbara Emilie (Wichmann) Bateman
July 12, 1926 – June 30, 2020
Barbara Metcalf Bateman, 93, of Conroe passed away in Conroe, Texas on June 30, 2020.
Born in Matehuala, Mexico on July 12, 1926, she was the daughter of Lothar Emil and Dorothy Victoria Haskin Wichmann. She graduated from Perry high school in 1944.
She moved to Conroe in 1944 when her father was transferred to run Shell Oil’s interest in the Conroe Oil Field.
In 1945 she met Leo Metcalf, Jr., a newly discharged Navy Pilot in WWII at the naval airport in Conroe. They married on May 18, 1946, in Conroe and raised four children. Barbara and her husband, Leo, took over the management of Metcalf Funeral Home in 1958 when Leo Metcalf, Sr. died. In 1968 her husband, Leo Jr., had a massive stroke and her role changed to care giver for the next 19 years. She was married to Leo for 41 years until his death in 1987.
In May of 1991, Barbara married Morris Bateman, Sr. and they were together until his death in 2019. Morris’s son, Morris Bateman, Jr. (Butch), became Barbara’s 5th child and 4th son.
Barbara was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for 76 years and attended daily mass until her health failed. She was also an active member of the Assistance League of Conroe until she moved to an assisted living facility due to her declining health.
Barbara is survived by: her daughter, Babette Eikenberg of Galveston; 4 sons and spouses,Tommy Metcalf and wife Mary Ann of Conroe, David Metcalf and wife Suzanne of Marble Falls, Richard Metcalf of Surf Side, and Morris Bateman, Jr. and wife Patty of Conroe. She is also survived by 2 sisters, 1 brother, 1 sister-in-law, 11 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren.
Due to Covid-19 the services for Barbara will be restricted to family only.