Barbara Jean (Barvitski) Thomas

Barbara Jean Thomas passed peacefully on Thursday April 10, 2025, at the Inn at Old Saybrook in Columbiana, with her family at her side.

She was born on February 22, 1937, in Youngstown, the daughter of the late Chester and Mary Wargo Barvitski and was lifelong area resident.

Barbara attended St. Patrick School and graduated from South High School.

Soon after high school she started working for Stambaugh-Thompsons in the lamp department.

She met a young man while working that would become her husband, William “Bill” H. Thomas Jr.

They married on May 25, 1956, at St. Patrick’s Church in Youngstown, and spent 62 years together until he sadly passed March 17, 2018.

Barbara was a housewife and raised her boys, she volunteered at St. Patrick's School and then started working again at JCPenney until retiring in 1994.

Barbara and her family were longtime members of St. Patrick’s Church and then she started attending St. Jude Church when she moved to Columbiana.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and was a member of TOPS and The Red Hat Society.

Barbara liked knitting and especially enjoyed baking, her chocolate pie and kolache were everyone’s favorite. She was most famous for her Thanksgiving stuffing

She leaves to cherish her memories her two sons: William B. Thomas of Marietta and Robert “Bob” J.

 (Janet Hay) Thomas Sr., of Canfield.

Barbara also leaves her beloved grandchildren, Tara (Sam), Conner of Pittsburgh and Madison and Robert R.J. Thomas Jr., both of Canfield.

Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister Maryellen (James) Wright.

Family and friends may call from 9:00 to 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday April 16, 2025, at St. Patrick Church 1420 Oak Hill Ave. Youngstown. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. celebrated by Very Rev. Thomas Kraszewski.

Barbara will be interred next to her husband Bill at Green Haven Memorial Gardens.

The Thomas family request material tributes be given to either Saint Patrick's Church Garden Fund 1420 Oak Hill Ave. Youngstown or The Ursuline Sister of Youngstown 4250 Shields Rd. Canfield.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Edward J. Fox & Sons Funeral Home, 4700 Market St. Boardman.

Family and friends of Barbara may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and to give condolences for the Thomas family.

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