Diana Barry Owen
July 14, 1954-March 27, 2013
Palo Alto, California
Submitted by Richard & Lorraine Barry
Diana lived in Palo Alto for her first year with older brother, David. She then moved with the family across the country to Pittsburgh, Pa., where her father started a new job with Westinghouse Atomic Power. Six years later the family moved back to Southern California where she attended grammar school. The family was active in the First Baptist Church of Woodland Hills. While in Southern California, Diana was blessed with five cool summers at Grandma Barry?s beach house at Newport Beach.
Back in Palo Alto, Diana attended local schools. After Paly High, Diana graduated from Foothill College. She then studied at Westmont College in Santa Barbara where she graduated with a major in history. Diana was able to travel to the Middle East and make two trips to Europe. Later, Diana again visited Europe with her history professor and members of her senior history class from Westmont College. In addition, Diana and her mother drove a VW Beetle across the country to deliver the car to her older brother, who was in the Army on the East Coast. She also enjoyed trips to Mexico and Hawaii.
After working at various high tech firms, Diana attended San Jose State, where she earned a Master?s Degree in Library Science. She then worked for a few years until she was married for 16 years. There were no children. Diana and her husband were both active in Baptist churches in Santa Clara and Campbell.
For the last seven years, Diana has lived at home, volunteering at the Palo Alto Main Library and taking loving care of her aging parents. She was active in many women?s groups at the Peninsula Bible Church and also with a local divorce recovery group. Other activities included: taking long walks and short car trips, knitting, baking bread, reading books and furthering her interest in vintage movies.
Diana had an unexpected, massive stroke on the evening of March 25. At the Stanford Hospital she was put on ?life support? for two days, but she never regained consciousness. She expired peacefully during the evening of March 27, surrounded by loving family and friends. She is dearly missed by many.
Diana is survived by both parents, Richard and Lorraine Barry; her brother David A. Barry, his wife Joanne and his family of four children and five grandchildren. Many friends, cousins, nieces and nephews mourn Diana's passing.
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