Arthena Vada Barnett

Arthena Vada Barnett, 86, of Tallmadge, Ohio, passed away February 13, 2026, surrounded by the family she spent a lifetime nurturing. Born on November 17, 1939, in Diana, West Virginia to the late Ernest Cowger and Effie Hambrick Cowger, she was the heart of her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Barnett; grandson, Clifton Barnett; and sisters, Velma Jordan and Vauna Cowger .She is survived by her children, Trish (Tony) Pugh and Jennings (Corinne) Barnett; grandchildren, Josh, Nick, Jordan, Maaliyah, and Ciannah; great-grandchildren, Killian, Rhiannon, Nova, and Thomas; sister, Neat Woods; and brother, Emery Cowger.

She was a woman of simple pleasures and deep loyalties. Arthena was famously never without a cat nearby and often times on her lap and spent decades providing a loving home to many feline companions. While she loved her family and cats dearly, a close runner-up was McDonalds. Her trips there never went without a kind word shared with friends and strangers alike.

Interment will be held at a later date. Arthena’s care and the family are being assisted by Hecker-Patron Funeral Home. Family and friends are invited to share their favorite memories or stories of Arthena by visiting her tribute wall at www.heckerpatronfuneralhome.com.