Barbara Kulik Lawrence

Barbara Kulik Lawrence

Barbara Kulik Lawrence passed away after battling Parkinson's Disease on 8/12/2025 at the age of 83. She was born in Parkston, S.D. to George Kulik and Lorayne Fergen Kulik.

She grew up with her family in the small town of Grafton, Iowa. They lived for many years in the railroad depot where her dad was the depot agent. Life was interesting with trains going by outside within 20 feet of the children's bedrooms. In high school, Barbara took part in many extra-curricular activities-Band, Chorus, Speech and Basketball. She was the class Valedictorian and was an excellent student. She was always striving to be the best.

After graduation from Grafton High, she went on to receive her Bachelor's Degree in Special Education and then her Master's Degree from the University of Missouri. In 1964, she moved to Southern California and taught students with physical disabilities, becoming Head Teacher of the Development Center for the Handicapped, in Long Beach, CA.

In 1975, Barbara received her Doctorate (PhD) in Special Education from Texas Woman's University and became a Professor at California State University Northridge, becoming the Department Head of Special Education and teaching the teachers of Special Ed. students. She developed and implemented the Special Ed. training program for these teachers.

While teaching at CSUN, she met John Lawrence, a CSUN professor of Physics. They were married on 1/12/85 in Iowa on a blizzarding, freezing day. They both were professors at CSUN for many years. After retiring in 1992, Barbara continued her involvement in Special Education, writing technical papers and editing academic journals. Barbara impacted many people's lives with her contribution to the field of Special Education and with her generosity, philanthropy, and charitable giving.

In her spare time, Barbara loved to read and play cards. She and John collected beautiful art pieces and they enjoyed classical music concerts together. Barbara and John loved to travel, especially to places John could scuba dive and they could follow eclipses of the sun. They traveled to Hawaii frequently and spent many summers at their lake home in Hammondsport, N.Y.

She always believed in the importance of education and family. They were very important to her, her whole life. Barbara got her biggest joy out of family gatherings-Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas Cookie Day, and any time the family gathered.

Barbara was predeceased by her husband, John Keeler Lawrence. She is survived by her sister, Georgianne Kulik McDonald (Gary), her brother, Michael Kulik (Pam) a niece, Jennifer Kulik, and nephews, Sam McDonald, Tony Kulik and Ben Kulik and step-son, Francis Lawrence (Helen).

A Celebration of Life will be held later.