Barbara was born April 28, 1944 and grew up in South Gate on San Antonio, attending Victoria Elementary, South Gate Junior and Senior High Schools. She lived next door to Benny (Ron) Beaver (S’62) and worked with him at his grandmother’s Frosty Freeze in Huntington Park from the time she was 16 until graduation. Her family didn't have a lot of money, and she didn’t have time to attend social events or proms, as she loved and was supporting her five horses and car! She had a 1955 Ford convertible, with chrome rims, tuck and roll upholstery, was lowered, and had vibrasonic sound!
After graduation she went to work for Pacific Telephone Company and began to move up the ladder. She was married to Ron Palmer (W’61) and they divorced in 1966. In 1968 Barbara married Don Rossman and her career followed AT&T “with divestiture,” being long and successful until she retired in 1989. She and Don lived in Rowland Heights and had horse property there. During that time, Barbara and her high school friend, Gayle Anderson Hamlin-Steidel (W'62), shared a close friendship and the love of horses. Gayle said, "Barbara was a great friend when in troubled times." After retiring from AT&T Barbara worked in a food manufacturing company and in politics for Fred Balderama, who was running for either Mayor or City Council of Rowland Heights.
She and Don eventually moved to Oregon, where she volunteered at a non-profit wildlife rehab center, Wild Life Images, making it another career and her pride and joy. They had five beautiful acres in Oregon, which she loved. She was blessed to acquire a horse and built a barn for it, along with their two dogs and five birds! Being a lover of old cars, she and Don had a 1941 street rod. Barbara was also very creative, enjoyed doing art work, and had her own blog. She had an infectious laugh, loved life, the outdoors, her “critters,” and friends. During those years and on into the future, she connected with Dave Ganzel (S'62), who not only became her veterinarian, but a dear friend. Sadly her husand Don suffered from Alzheimer’s and Barbara lovingly cared for him until his death in 2013. She was devastated.
Then in late 2013 she met Joe Scheffer online and they developed a friendship, had much in common, and visited back and forth. They were married on Valentine's day, 2015 and they made their home in Millersville Missouri. She built a beautiful home there and, with the help of friend Dave, they obtained a herd of Romagnola cattle and horses. She loved her home, life as a farmers wife, her horses and three cats!
Barbara had aplastic anemia, which was under control, but, tragically, she had a bad fall and passed away in their home August 26, 2023. She is dearly missed by husband Joe, her niece, Marianna Weaver, who lives in California, and caring friends. May you rest in peace, dear Classmate.
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Judy Hanson (Dillard)
Talked with Barbara a few times when doing my searches for the "missing" and they were great conversations. So sorry she's gone. Prayers for her and Blessings to her family.
Bonnie Benson (Concialdi)
So very sad to see another classmate gone. I didn't know Barbara well in high school but I do remember her for sure. She had a great smile and through the years before several of our reunions, I talked to Barbara and encouraged her to come. Sadly, she never got to a reunion because she lived out of state but in the last decade or so, she let us know about what was happening with her through the website and was in contact with several classmates! She was always so positive, happy, and honest about where she was in life! In talking with Barbara's niece and Dave Ganzel, I enjoyed learning about Barbara and what a facinating person she was and how very much she was loved!