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Barbara Whitman Sparrow

  Barbara Whitman Sparrow, a resident of Sonoma, passed away on Jan. 29, 2013, just two weeks shy of her 94th birthday.

  Barbara was raised in San Anselmo, and graduated in 1936 from San Rafael High School. Barbara met her future husband, Jack Sparrow, at San Rafael High and they were married in 1937. They resided in Novato and in 1940 they purchased the Novato Advance.

  After Barbara and Jack sold the paper in 1952, she pursued her own career. She held positions at Crocker National Bank and the Novato Unified School District.

  Barbara was active in many civic organizations in Novato, most notably co-founding the Novato chapter of the Sunny Hills Guild.

  In 1977, Barbara and Jack retired in Sonoma. Barbara took a part-time job at Vineyard Jewelers and worked there well into her 80s. Barbara was active in the Sonoma Valley Women’s Association and the Sonoma Swingers golf group. She was also a member of the Sonoma United Methodist Church.

  In 2010, she moved to Merrill Gardens where she made many new friends.

  Barbara was predeceased by Jack in 2001.

  She is survived by her son, Jack Jr. (Sharon), of Santa Maria; son, Bob (Linda), of Orange County; and daughter, Suzanne Watson (Alan), of Scottsdale, Ariz. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Shelley Watson and Matt Sparrow of Tucson, Ariz.; Stephanie Shomer, of Glendale; Dana Borelli, of Monrovia; and Jeff Sparrow, of Orange County. She was blessed to have six great-grandchildren, Katie and Abby Watson, of Tucson, Ariz.; Jackson and Madelyn Sparrow, of Tucson, Ariz.; and Dylan and Emma Shomer, of Glendale. Barbara is also survived by her brother, Neil Whitman, of Sonoma and sister, Geraldine Bruce, of Sun City, Fla.

  Private services will be held by the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sunny Hills Children’s Garden, 300 Sunny Hills Drive, San Anselmo, CA 94960.