Barbara Ann Kinney

Barbara Ann Kinney, 83, passed away peacefully at her Newbury Park home on July 26, 2023. Her adoring family and friends will miss her positive energy, smile, wisdom, and grace. In her final days, the outpouring of love from friends and neighbors filled the hearts of her family and brought great comfort.

Born in Cleveland on December 6, 1939 to a German immigrant mother and her seafaring father, a first mate sailing ore ships on the Great Lakes. Barbara's father moved his family to Los Angeles in 1941, eventually gaining his master's papers and captaining freighters sailing the Pacific. Barbara spoke of the pride she felt when visiting the port and seeing the grand ships he captained.

She made Newbury Park her forever home in August of 1966, where she raised her 5 beautiful children with the love of her life, Bob. A fixture of her community, she was most proud of the life and home she created with Bob. Motorcycle adventures holding tight on her beloved husband, taking vacations with friends and family, living life to the fullest. Jamaica was the top of the list when asked what her favorite trip was.

Retired from a 25 year career at Vons in 2000, she had many life-long friends. Her decades in retirement were spent hosting monthly parties for her loving family, playful arguments over who was really her favorite, swimming, BBQs, lots of laughter and listening to stories of her youth, creating unforgettable memories for the generations following her.

Daily walks with her dog made her an inadvertent centerpiece of her neighborhood. Crocheting blankets for new babies, and sharing her insights with those she loved brought her delight and fulfillment. She always said she was the luckiest person alive because of the love she constantly received from her family and neighbors. A simple life was something she cherished, her family and home were her pride and joy.

Barbara is survived by her daughter Jeri Brown and her three sons - Jack (Marina), James (Kelley), and Rick; her ten grandchildren - Angela Haymond (Rajeev), Aaron Ranslem, Dillon Brown, Bryan Nicholoy, Carrie Jadloc (Sal), Samantha and Tabitha Kinney, Justin Kinney and Megan Short (Ryan); her seven great-grandchildren - James and Dexter Hayes, Harper and Collin Haymond, Daniel and Gabriel Zavala, and Willow Ranslem. She is also survived by her two brothers, Jim and Howard Watts, their spouses, as well as many nieces, nephews and their children. She was preceded in death by her first and true love, husband Bob (Robert) Kinney; son Robert Kinney; sisters Bette and Verna and parents Sydney Vernon and Johanna Watts.

Her legacy lives on in the hearts of her family and friends, who deeply cherish her. The love she received from everyone she interacted with in her neighborhood is deeply appreciated by her family, who all wish they could live their final years surrounded by such wonderful giving people. Her quick wit and her wise advice will live on in everyone forever.