Barbara Jane Rodarte

Barbara Jane Rodarte was born February 12, 1925, to Amos and Edna Petersen, a pioneer family of the Kern River Valley. She was the eldest of three siblings and worked hard on the ranch raising her own sheep, sending the wool to the mill to make blankets.

Mom graduated from the Kern Union High School and attended college with the goal of becoming a home economics teacher but contracted rheumatic fever and had to return to the ranch.

Mom met Dad in the Valley. Their dates involved saddling horses and then each would ride halfway to meet the other. They were wed on June 25, 1947, and were blessed with three children, Neil (Teresa), Roger (Christie), and Judith (Victor); grandchildren, Jacob, Laci, Amy, Shelby, Brianne, Colby Rodarte, Kyle, Evan, Trey Costerisan, Layne Binnendyk; and twenty-two great-grandchildren. She worked for the Kern High School District and was a Den Mother for the Boy Scouts.

The family would like to thank Dr. A. Peinado, Dr. J. Salvo, Dr. S. Sandhu, the staff on the fifth and sixth floors of Memorial Hospital, and caregivers Dee, Desiree, and Sol. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice .

Services will be held at St. Francis of Asisi Catholic Church on March 10, 2017. Rosary starting at 8:30 am, followed by Mass at 9:00 am.

Published in Bakersfield Californian on Mar. 8, 2017

Arrangements under the direction of Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary, Bakersfield, CA.