Barbara Rolph

Barbara Rolph, a prominent community volunteer, civic supporter, and philanthropist in Wichita, Kansas, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2026. Born in Kansas City, MO, to Norman and Bonnie Fish on September 4, 1949, Barbara built a life centered on family, community service, and entrepreneurship alongside her husband of 54 years, David Rolph.

David and Barbara met at the University of Iowa in 1969. In 1971, David became Area General Manager of the San Franciso Bay Area for Pizza Hut, Inc. He called and asked Barbara to leave Iowa and join him in California, and they were married on Alameda Island in San Francisco Bay, June 13, 1972.

In 1973, David’s brother, Darrel Rolph, invited them to form a partnership as Pizza Hut franchisees and they moved across the country to develop stores in Virginia and West Virginia. Barbara and David worked as a team opening several new restaurants before relocating to Wichita in 1975. From those beginnings came opportunities to grow the businesses into what is now called Thrive Restaurant Group (formerly known as Sasnak Management) which now owns and operates over 200 restaurants in 20 states including Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Cafes, HomeGrown and Applebee’s.

Soon after arriving in Wichita and starting a family, she found opportunities to share her talent for leadership with community organizations that best represented the issues about which she was most passionate. Thus began what would become over four decades supporting and serving local institutions and human services across Wichita and Sedgwick County. She advocated for the vulnerable through essential non-profits including CASA (founding board member), the Wichita Children's Home (Board Chair - 1999-2000 and 1997 Mary Ann Ranney Award for Volunteerism), and The Salvation Army (Board President - 2003-2004 and 2004 William Booth Award). Her volunteer work touched many beloved local institutions, including the Sedgwick County Zoo (Board Chair - 2001-2002) where she was co-chair of the Zoobilee Committee using her restaurant experience and connections to help launch what has become the annual fundraising juggernaut that has lasted for more than 40 years. She was an early board member for Exploration Place and the first non-medical member of the board of Project Access.

In recognition of their broad contributions to the community, David and Barbara were honored by United Way of the Plains with the 2025 Spirit of Service Award.

A devoted servant leader, Barbara was a loving wife, mother, sister, and friend whose kindness and generosity left a lasting legacy across Wichita. She is survived by her husband, David; her children, Becky and Jon; her daughter-in-law, Lauren; and her six grandchildren, Emma, Olivia, David, Peter, Austin, and Bear. She is survived by her sisters, Judy Stevens (Mark) of Newton, Iowa and Susan Walkup (Doug) of Des Moines, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at Hope Community Church in Andover on October 26 at 10:00.

In lieu of flowers, to celebrate Barbara’s legacy of generosity, we encourage donations to the Wichita Children’s Home in her honor. wch.org/giving/donate. Choose tribute gift in memory of Barbara Rolph.