Maureen Barber 1945-2026

Maureen was born Nov. 26, 1945, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to James Joseph O’Hara Sr. and Frances Bonita Gilboy (both deceased).

Her fraternal grandfather, Thomas Anthony O’Hara, was born in Culeens, County Sligo, Ireland, and her grandmother, Katherine A. Mannion in Bala, County Mayo, Ireland (both deceased), and emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, eventually living in Youngstown. Her maternal grandfather, Martin Francis Gilboy, and grandmother, Anna Agnes Marie Thornton, were born in Youngstown (both deceased).

She is survived by husband of 58 1/2 years, Charles; daughter, Melissa Barber Rothrock of Henrico, Virginia; son, Launce Reed Barber of Bradenton, Florida; grandson, Hayden Rothrock of Henrico, Virginia; two sisters, Colleen Robinson (James) of Lakewood, Colorado, and Christine Rosan (John) of Westerville. Two brothers are deceased, James O’Hara Jr. and Kevin Michael O’Hara.

Maureen also is survived by two sisters-in-law, Sandra Schwartz (Frank, deceased) of Hermitage, Pa., and Regina O’Hara (James Jr., deceased) of Austin, Texas; two nieces and four nephews; and four grandnieces and five grandnephews.

Maureen attended St. Edward’s Elementary School in Youngstown and graduated from Ursuline High School in Youngstown in 1963. She obtained a diocese scholarship to attend Youngstown State University and taught at a Catholic elementary school her third and fourth years while completing her B.E. degree in 1967.

In February 1965, she was introduced to her future husband, Charles Barber of Hermitage, Pa. They became engaged at Christmas 1966. They were married at St. Edward Church in Youngstown on June 10, 1967, a week after they both graduated from Youngstown State University, he in chemical engineering and she in elementary education.

They honeymooned at Strickland’s resort in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. They returned to an apartment in Wilmington, Delaware, following their honeymoon.

Maureen started her education career by accepting a position teaching in the Newark, Delaware, special school district in 1967. She taught there until early 1968, when she became pregnant with their first child.

Melissa Christine Barber was born in Wilmington General Hospital on Sept. 5, 1968. In 1970, Charles was transferred to the Waynesboro, Virginia, DuPont plant. On April 27, 1971, son Launce Reed was born in Waynesboro.

In August 1972, Charles transferred to the Richmond, Virginia, DuPont Textile Fibers Division and to a new home in the Village of Chester, Virginia, which started a 32-year stay for the family in the Richmond, Virginia, area.

While there, Maureen was a mother and homemaker until the children started day care at Bill and Jill Nursery School in Chester, Virginia. She returned to teaching as an aide at Wells Elementary School in 1975 in Chester, Virginia, and was hired as a full-time teacher at that school in 1976.

After several years at Wells Elementary, she was invited to teach in Chesterfield County’s first gifted education program. She taught in that program at Henning, Midlothian Middle and Brandermill Middle schools. In her last years, she left teaching to work with a group writing curriculum and instructing teachers still in the gifted education program in Chesterfield County.

Maureen retired from Chesterfield County Schools in June 2005 with 29 years of service.

She and Charles completed a retirement home in Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida, in January 2004, and moved to it following Maureen’s retirement in June 2005.

Services will be for family only.

The family requests that no flowers be sent.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Tidewell Hospice, which cared for Maureen in her final days.

Maureen was cremated at Robert Toale & Sons Celebration of Life Center in Bradenton, Florida. See the full obituary at www.rtslwr.com.

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