DRESSER, Susan Barnes
Died Monday, July 2, 2012, at Kaiser Hospital after a long illness surrounded by friends and family. She is survived by her beloved husband of 42 years, Robert; her children, Jennifer Bank (Brian) and Jonathan; her grandchildren, Benjamin and Sidney Bank; her sister, Linna Barnes (Chris Mixter); her sister-in law, Madge Dresser; and her nieces and nephew, Sara and Laura Mixter and Daniel Summerbell. Susan was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on May 27, 1947. She lived most of her childhood in Athens, Georgia. Susan attended Duke University and graduated from California State University at San Jose. She received two Masters from Sacramento State and was in the process of completing a PhD when she became ill. After attending Duke University, Susan joined Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) and served in San Antonio, Texas, where she met her husband, Robert. They married in Texas and moved to California to start their life together and then raise their two children, Jennifer and Jonathan. After staying home with her children in their early years, Susan began working at the Human Rights Fair Housing Commission in Sacramento helping low-income people with housing problems. Several years later, she changed careers and became a teacher and then a school administrator. Her crowning achievement came when she became principal of Joseph Bonheim Elementary School where she served for seven years until her retirement in 2008. She loved teaching, reading, poetry, and her family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Congregation B'nai Israel, 3600 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95818, with a designation of promoting educational opportunities for students at Joseph Bonheim and Jedediah Smith Elementary Schools.
The funeral service will be held Friday, July 6th, at 10:30 am at Home of Peace Cemetery Chapel, 6200 Stockton Blvd. at El Paraiso Avenue in Sacramento.
Arrangements by Lombard & Company Funeral Directors
(916) 483-3297
Published in The Sacramento Bee on July 6, 2012
