Barbara Perrone

Barbara Perrone of Lynchburg, Va. passed away June 23 (and as a HAM radio operator, WD4HAH, became a Silent Key), surrounded by family at her happy place on Smith Mountain Lake. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Barbara was the daughter of Ben and Peg Jakobowski. She graduated with honors from the University of Dayton and married the love of her life, Paul, shortly thereafter. June 26 would have been their 55th wedding anniversary. Barbara made a profession of service to others. She was a long-time teacher’s assistant at Linkhorne Elementary, a museum shop docent at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and the national D-Day Memorial, and a volunteer at the Smith Mountain Lake American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop. Barbara also served on the Board of Directors of the Society of St. Andrew. Her most indelible mark was left on her family, as a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She made every family member feel special by remembering their favorite things, leaving special treats on their beds, and traveling the world with her grandkids when they turned 13. Her passion for Christmas, ACC basketball, and all things Thomas Jefferson was legendary. Barbara often said to “bloom where you are planted” and she found beauty in all things. Barbara is survived by Paul, her husband of 55 years; her daughter, Peggy Weiss and husband, Oliver; her son, Pete Perrone and wife, Margaret; and her grandchildren, Gray and Will Perrone, Samantha and Max Weiss. A Funeral Mass to celebrate Barbara’s life will take place at 10:30am on July 11 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Lynchburg, followed by interment at the Resurrection Catholic Church Cemetery, Moneta, VA. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Society of St. Andrew or the Westminster-Canterbury of Lynchburg Foundation. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.