Barbara Joane Mau

Barbara was born in Bisbee, Arizona on July 8, 1928 to Herman and Beatrice (Walker) Snodgrass. She was the second of four children. As a young girl, she and her older sister Jeane played the accordion. Her family moved to La Mesa after living in Riverside, California. During the war, she worked as a “Rosie the Riveter.”

Barbara earned a degree in teaching from San Diego State. Later, she completed the coursework for an advanced degree and became a school psychologist, working in San Diego area schools for many years. She retired in 1988.

Her family built and owned a few apartment complexes on Lemon Avenue in La Mesa. Barbara designed the spacious floorplans of several of these complexes. Years later, she and her husband George actively managed these complexes.

Barbara often spent time with her nieces and nephews. They have fond memories of her homemade French fries and going to the beach, the Wild Animal Park, the fair and camping with her in her VW camper. Later, they were joined by John, Barbara’s adopted son, whom she adopted while she was still single.

Barbara met her husband George at a singles social club that met at church and convinced him to take dancing lessons with her. They married in 1988 and were married for 36 years. Barbara often spoke with pride about what a brilliant man George was and how he wouldn’t rest until the apartment books were balanced to the penny.

Barbara enjoyed social activities, being around people and children. She loved dancing, running, walking, and camping. She joined a senior running club later in life and joked that she had to lie about her age to be part of it because she was too old. Well into her 90s, she could still walk over a mile at a time and liked to go dancing.

Barbara was a strong, determined woman who cared deeply about family and was very generous to them. She and her husband George sent holiday and birthday cards to many grandnieces and nephews. It must have taken some time to pick them out because the cards were different for each child in the family. Barbara will be greatly missed.

Barbara is survived by two grandchildren, Steven Snodgrass, Florida, and Sarah Snodgrass, Florida, eight nieces and nephews, and many grandnieces and grandnephews. Preceded in death by her husband, George W. Mau, Jr., her son, John Snodgrass, her parents, Herman and Beatrice Snodgrass, her siblings, Jeane, Beverly, and Herman, and a nephew, George Clark.

A visitation will be held from 8:00 AM until 9:00 AM on September 5, 2025 at Erickson-Anderson Mortuary. A graveside service for Barbara will be held Friday, September 5, 2025 from 10:30 AM at Alpine Cemetery Association, 2495 W Victoria Dr, Alpine, CA 91901.