Barbara M. McKellar, 89, of Vandalia, IL passed away at 5:05 PM, Thursday, July 18, 2024 at
SBL Fayette County Hospital Long Term Care.
Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 AM, Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Hohlt & File Funeral
Home, Vandalia. A Private Graveside Service and Interment will be held at Fairlawn Cemetery,
Vandalia with Rev. Robert Weaver officiating. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian
Church of Vandalia or S.A.F.E. Organization. Online condolences may be expressed
at www.hohltandfilefh.com.
Barbara Marie Rahn was born on February 18, 1935 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Ernest H.
and Margaret A. (Pfleger) Rahn; Barbara’s mother passed away at a young age, and she was
raised by her father’s sister, Irma and husband Roy Schlemmer in Mt. Prospect, IL.
She married the love of her life, James Todd McKellar on December 21, 1957. Together they
celebrated 61 years of marriage and raised two children; he preceded her in death on February
25, 2019.
Barbara graduated from Monmouth College and taught at Lincoln Elementary School in
Vandalia, IL before she and Todd raised their children. Afterwards, Barbara volunteered for over
25 years with the S.A.F.E. organization. She also was very active performing in numerous
musicals with the Centralia Cultural Arts Society and her local community.
She was a devout member of the First Presbyterian Church of Vandalia where she was choir
director for decades. Barbara was a doting grandmother, she loved spending time traveling,
fishing, and boating with her family.
Mrs. McKellar is survived by her son, Michael McKellar and wife, Carol of Elgin; daughter,
Meg and husband, Todd Marquardt of Vandalia; grandchildren, Olivia and Hayden Marquardt
and Katie, Kristen, and Matthew McKellar; sister, Marilyn Gillette of Grand Rapids, MI; many,
nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
She was also preceded in death by her parents and sister, Dorothy Anderson.
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