Barbara Jane Ritz's Obituary
A long time former resident of Oakland CA, current resident of the Carlton Senior Living Community of San Leandro CA.
Born March 22, 1940 and passed September 13, 2016
Barbara was born in Portland, OR to Ruth Jane & Henry Patterson Ritz, moving to Walnut Creek CA in 1950. She graduated from Los Lomas High School in 1958, married Joseph Laurian Oliver in 1959, and they had a son, Thomas Laurian Oliver, in 1960. Barbara and Joe divorced and she began the life of a single working mother in 1963, buying a home in Oakland in 1967. Barbara worked a long and notable career in the commercial insurance business, working for some of the Bay Area’s leading insurance brokers – Mason McDuffie, Poulton & Orr, Sedgwick James, Marsh & McLennan, where she rose to the position of VP, and lastly, McDermott Costa.
Barbara gave much of her free time not only helping in her East Oakland neighborhood by mentoring the young and offering advice on legal & financial matters, but also donating her services preparing tax returns for seniors and the less advantaged in Oakland. After retiring she moved to the Carlton of San Leandro where she flourished.
Barbara is survived by her son Tom & daughter in-law Debbie of Castro Valley CA; brother Pat & sister in-law Trudy of Tualatin OR, sister Kathy of Sandy OR, sister Janet & brother in-law Forrest of Wawaka IN.
She will be missed by many.
A Celebration Of Life will be forthcoming.
Any Donations should be made to the American Cancer Society.
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