Barbara Rector, a longtime pillar of the Trona community, will be honored with a memorial service on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM at the Searles Valley Cemetery. A reception celebrating her life will follow at the Trona Senior Center.
Born in Bakersfield, Barbara moved to Trona in 1951, entering Trona High School as a sophomore. She quickly became an integral part of campus life, graduating with the Class of 1954. During her school years, she was a dedicated member of the G.A.A. and the Girls’ League, and she helped capture the history of her peers through her work on the Slate and the Telescope.
Barbara was the beloved wife of the late Russell Rector (Class of 1949), who preceded her in death in 2018. She was a devoted mother to her three sons: Ricky (Class of 1973), Robert (Class of 1977), and John (Class of 1978). She now joins her husband and her sons, Ricky and Robert, in eternal rest.
She is also preceded in death by her sisters, Rayana Hobby (Class of 1958) and Sheila Wheeler (Class of 1960). Barbara’s legacy lives on through her son John, her extended family, and the many lives she touched in the Searles Valley.
Barbara was an amazing person. I loved her smile and attitude. I feel truly blessed to have grown up with her as a role model and a great friend of my parents. Her days working in the restaurant where filled with her life loving personality and laughter. I feel blessed that I got to give her a hug and kiss on the cheek last summer. She will be greatly missed. Love you Barbara