Barbara Maris Jones, 89, of Los Osos, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, Dec. 8, 2006.
She was born Jan. 1, 1917 in Newcastle, Wyo., to Ralph W. and Mary E. McBroom Maris. She spent her childhood in Long Beach and graduated with honors from the University of Redlands in 1938 where she met her husband of 57 years, John B. Jones.
The couple raised their family in La Cañada and then moved to Fullerton where they lived for 25 years. John died in 1997 and Barbara moved to Los Osos in 2000.
John’s grandfather built a cabin in Idyllwild in 1925 that the couple had been coming to since 1938.
Always a star student, Barbara did graduate work at USC, taught French and Spanish — in which she was fluent — and was a counselor at San Fernando and Sylmar high schools. She was a frequent world traveler, active in choral groups and an excellent pianist.
An avid reader and bridge player, Barbara remained intellectually active and traveled well into her late 80s. She had a wonderful life, well lived.
Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, 2006 at San Jacinto Valley Cemetery in Hemet.
Barbara is survived by her son Mark M. Jones and wife Mary Kay of Tucson; her daughter, Connie Pillsbury and husband Norman of Atascadero; grandchildren Justin Jones of Lincoln, Neb., Forrest Jones and wife Kathrina of Visalia, Morgan Jones of Honolulu and Heather Jones of Cary, N.C.; and her sister, Emily M. Gibson of The Village at Sydney Creek, San Luis Obispo.
The Barbara M. Jones Music Scholarship for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo has been established in her honor. Remembrances in Barbara’s name may be made to Cal Poly State University and mailed to University Advancement/Scholarship/Barbara M. Jones, Heron Hall, Room 111, Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0444.