Barbara Jean “Barb” Huwe died on Oct. 12, 2023 at her home in Irrigon at the age of 83.
She was born on Sept. 2, 1940 in Joplin, Mo. She was adopted as a teen by her parents, Olga J. and LLoyd H. Cline. As she said, “They were the best parents a gal could ask for.”
Barb grew up in Union Gap, Wash. and graduated in the first class to graduate from Eisenhower High School in 1958. On Oct. 10, 1958, Barb and Lon Wadekamper were married and started their family. During this union they were blessed with their children, Lonette and Scott. On June 6, 1970, Barb and Lon moved to Hermiston and that is where she resided until their divorce in 1981. Shortly after that she moved to Irrigon, where she created and left her legacy.
In 1981 Barb started her retail business as Brown’s Truck Stop, which most of us knew as the only gas station and store in town. In the late ‘90s, Barb and Wayne rebuilt the station and added a laundromat. Irrigon was then the place to wash clothes! People came from all over the area and that made Barb proud. Customers would say that the laundry mat was the “cleanest and had the best customer service.”
In the summer of 1984 Barb and some friends started the Irrigon Watermelon Festival, which has been a hit for the past 39 years. In 1985, she was involved in the establishment of the Irrigon Chamber of Commerce and also the formation of the Morrow County Health District. In the early ‘90s, Barb met the love of her life and, as she called him, her “Rose Bandit.” Their love was unconditional and one to admire. They were united in marriage on Sept. 10, 1993 in Reno, Nev. Barb started over by helping Wayne parent Kimber and Kevin.
As the years became even busier, her involvement in the community increased. She dedicated many years to serving as the Giving Tree chairman. She spent time gathering gifts and making holiday baskets. The greatest part was delivering them and seeing all the smiles on the faces of happy children. She was a member of and involved in Stokes Landing Senior Center and the A.C. Houghton Parent Club. Barb also championed the Irrigon Watermelon Festival softball tournament for many years to raise funds for the library in Irrigon. Barb was a huge “FOIL” – Friend of the Irrigon Library. She dedicated 22 years to get our community a library. Barb also served for 16-1/2 years on the Oregon Trail Library board. In the beginning, Barb had a dream of a mobile library and she and Wayne made it happen.
In 2007, Barb and Wayne decided to sell Huwe’s Has it All and enjoy life. Of course they still had their rental business, which continued to keep them busy. However, they made time to travel, enjoy life, and focus on quality, family time. Some of the trips that they took were clamming on the coast, snowmobiling in Yellowstone, an African safari and hunting trip. They visited Tahiti and made a cross-country road trip exploring the United States. They took a trip to Branson, Mo. and made great memories. They also went on a Caribbean cruise with an island visit. When she wasn’t traveling, you could find Barb cooking, knitting, crafting, or sewing.
Barb’s most prized possession was her family. She is survived by her husband, Wayne “Rose Bandit” Huwe; children, Lonette (Bruce) Fedio of Florida and Scott Wadekamper of Hermiston; step children, Kimberly Kimber (Shane) Slover and grandchildren, Hayley and Hunter of Deer Park, Wash., and Kevin (Tasha) Huwe, Culver and grandchildren, Logan Wright, Hermiston, Breana Wadekamper, Arizona and Tyler (Olivia) and great grandson, Theodore Wadekamper of Washington; and daughter-in-law, Rebecca “Becky” Wadekamper of Arizona.
A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Irrigon High School gymnasium.
A potluck dinner will follow in the gym.
Please share memories of Barb with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
