Barbara Sue Givens

Barbara Sue Givens, 75, passed away Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at the Life Care Center in  Burlington. She was born July 7, 1942 in Lebo, Kansas the daughter of Richard and Inez Foster Givens. Barbara attended Lebo High School and graduated with the Class of 1960. Later that year she married Marvin Emley. Barbara and Marvin made their home in Emporia and had three children.Barbara would later move back to Lebo where she married Leo Spielman in 1973. Barbara was a Data Entry Technician at Didde Manufacturing in Emporia for over twenty years. After the company closed she was employed as an administrative assistant at Emporia State University for ten years.  She married Chuck Bishop in September of 1981.  Barbara was a member of the Lebo Baptist Church.  Her love for singing enticed her to become a member of the Sweet Adelines in Emporia.  Barbara will live on in the hearts of her sons, Donald Emley of Neosho Rapids, Larry Emley of Lebo; daughter, Elizabeth Ann Emley of Emporia; sister, Joan Bronson and her husband Ruben of Grand Prairie, Texas; brothers, Richard Givens and his wife June of Neosho Rapids, John Givens and his wife Bunny of Lebo; eight grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren; numerous extended family and countless dear friends.  A celebration of her life will be held at 6:00 P.M., Friday, April 13, 2018 at the Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home in Lebo. Her ashes will be inurned in Lincoln Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Barbara Givens Memorial which will benefit  upkeep to the Givens Field  at the Lebo West Park and sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.