LOIS JANE BARBER

BARBER LOIS JANE

Age 63, of Franklin, died surrounded by her family and friends, Thursday, July 5, 2018 at her home. Born January 7, 1955 in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of Charles Robert and Catherine Charlotte Nock Hlava. Lois graduated from North Hills High School near Pittsburgh in the class of 1972 and went on to earn her BS in Mathematics and Education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 1977. After graduating from college, she began working as a sales representative for Honeywell Corporation in Pittsburgh until 1982. In 1983, she started working as a computer analyst for Quaker State Corporation until 1989 when she stepped away to raise her boys. In 2006, she and her business partners, Bernie Becker and Cindy Linnon founded and operated Franklin Bronze Plaques and she worked there until her retirement in 2014 due to health issues. She was a member of St. Patrick Church in Franklin. Lois was very active and enjoyed gardening, kayaking, biking, hiking, and visiting her second home in Ashville, NC. An accomplished downhill skier, she enjoyed teaching many. She was a 2nd degree blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do and was accomplished at Tai Chi, studying at the Cootie Harris School of Tai Chi. She was certified in cranial-sacral therapy and enjoyed helping other people enjoy wellness through her practice. Lois was a board member for Wanango Country Club. Mrs. Barber is fondly remembered for giving of her time to help various community groups, organizations, and people. Lois, in her own way, bravely fought cancer for four years until her death. On April 25, 1987, she was married to Robert Eugene Barber in Oil City. In addition to her parents and husband, she is survived by two sons, James Robert Barber of Franklin, and Douglas Edward Barber of Austin, TX; a stepson, Charles John Barber and his wife Alexandra of Honeoye Falls, NY; three grandchildren, Leo, age 6, Wes, age 2, and Jax, age 1 all of Honeoye Falls, NY; and her informally adopted son Andres Diaz of Caracas Venezuela, who spent two years as a foreign exchange student in Venango County. Also surviving are two brothers, Edward Charles Hlava and his wife Kay, and Kenneth Hlava and his wife Mary Ann; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Leo Joseph "Roy" and Marie Catherine Barbara Rumpler Nock; her paternal grandparents, Charles George and Minnie Mary Bohinc Hlava; and an aunt, Martha Jane Nock Mella. Friends may call at the MORRISON FUNERAL HOME on Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Patrick Church in Franklin with the Rev. John Malthaner presiding. Interment will be in Grove Hill Cemetery. The family requests memorials be made to Venango Catholic High School or St. Patrick Elementary School in the name of Lois Barber. These schools always had a special place in her heart. Please visit the Tribute Wall at www.morrisonhome.com to share a memory or leave a condolence.