Barbara Jean Dyson

Barbara Jean Dyson Apr. 14, 1923 - Sept 1, 2011 Resident of Orinda "And when she shall die, take her and cut her up in little stars, and she will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will fall in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun," - Shakespeare Barbara Dyson died on September 1, 2011 at the age of 88. She was born Barbara Jean Berg in Los Angeles California. As the daughter of a Civil Engineer she, her parents and her close knit family of two sisters and two brothers moved often as their father's profession demanded, but primarily grew up in the southwest and the family eventually settled in Phoenix, Arizona. Barbara graduated from Phoenix Union High School and attended Arizona State University. She met her future husband, Lyman Dyson, at a friend's Christmas party in Winslow, Arizona. They married on June 11, 1948 and moved to Berkeley, California while her husband completed his last year and graduated from U.C. Berkeley. They were married for 63 years, She was s long active member of P.E.O., (Philanthropic educational Organization), one of the pioneer societies in promoting educational advancements for women. Barbara was a remarkable and extraordinary woman; beautiful, smart, funny, classy. But her greatest gift was the gift she gave to other people - her ability to make them feel as if they were the most important person In the world. Because of this she has many loving family members and has made many loving friends throughout her life. She is survived by her husband, Lyman Dyson, daughter, Lisa Dyson, sons, Kent and Stuart Dyson and grandsons Myles and Blake Dyson. Family and friends are invited to celebrate her life at a memorial service on Saturday September 10 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda, California. A reception will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Orinda Country Club, 315 Camino Sobrante, Orinda, California. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1060 La Avenida, Mountain View, California, 94043, www.alz. org, or to NAMI, the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill, P.O. Box 21247, Concord, CA, 94521, www.namicontracosta.org