Barbara "Bobby" Jean Hoza

She was comforted in her last hours by son Bradley, daughter-in-law Roseanne, granddaughter Siera, grandson Sterling, granddaughter Cheyenne, with great granddaughter Arianna nearby.

She was born in Akron, Ohio to Eugenia Marie (nee Towery) and Cyril Blaine Posey. She grew up in the heartland, embracing a deep love of country and local culture.

Bobby's childhood and high school years were filled with family, fun, and adventures. She cared for her maternal grandmother who lived down the block, square danced every weekend with her paternal Pop as the caller, and enjoyed having the gang over to play on the merry go round and swings her father built.

This love of fun, adventure, and parties would continue throughout her life.

Bobby attended Akron University, majoring in Education, where she met her future husband James (Jim) Allan Hoza. The two married on May 3rd, 1958 at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida with her parents, maternal grandmother, Jim's brother Paul and wife Bobbie, Jim’s flight school classmates, and Bobby's class of 5th grade students attending.

They celebrated with their guests at the Officers’ Club, honeymooned in Mobile, Alabama [her mother's birthplace], where the newlyweds danced until closing time, and soon embarked upon several travel adventures afforded by Jim’s career as a Lieutenant in the US Navy.

Bobby taught elementary school at a number of Catholic schools and was also a high school home economics teacher.

She was baptized in the Methodist church, attended Sunday school, and sang in the church choir as a child, but began to regularly attend Roman Catholic services with Jim while in college.

She chose to be baptized in the Catholic Church and receive First Communion while teaching 5th grade at Sacred Heart in Pensacola, and then was confirmed in Guam, taking St. Martin de Porres as her patron saint.

Guam was an 18 month emergency deployment by the Navy after her marriage, which interrupted Bobby's Akron U senior year.

She taught school in Guam, and upon their return to the States by way of Japan and Hawaii, Jim was stationed in New Iberia, Louisiana.

Bobby finished her last year of college and graduated from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette.

This also was the beginning of their family as their first daughter, Stephanni Allyson was born in 1962.

Continued Naval service and deployments brought two more children born in Virginia, Suzanne Alane in 1964, and Bradley James in 1965.

Postings in San Diego, Denver, and Georgia took the family along, and when the USS Shangri-La took Jim to the Mediterranean Sea, Bobby and the children took up residence and local Catholic school education outside Pisa, Italy in order to meet the ship during port visits.

Returning stateside after Naval retirement in 1968, the family settled in Shelburne, Vermont for two years, then returned to Jim’s family farm in Ohio.

Bobby taught 5th grade at Our Lady of Perpetual Help for the salary of $1 and children's tuition.

She was great friends with the other teachers, most of whom were nuns.

Farm BBQs with nuns in full habit and convent visits were the norm.

Extended Hoza family get-togethers on the farm were always lively occasions with lots of laughter and love among the aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Bobby was a school volunteer and chaperone for her children who loved school and were given all the books, sports, and cultural activities Bobby and Jim could provide.

Educated in home economics, Bobby was an accomplished seamstress, home cook, and baker.

Her childhood favorite, spaghetti, became a family favorite along with lasagne, apple pies from hand picked farm orchard apples, Louisiana chocolate cake, kolachi, and many, many cookies.

Infamous in family lore is her PNW escargot.

Bobby sewed her eldest daughter's recital dresses and formal gowns.

She taught children and grandchildren how to knit and crochet afghans, while also creating and donating untold numbers of handmade afghans and baby blankets to senior citizens and mothers.

Following Jim’s illness and premature death in 1984, Bobby lived in Dallas, Texas where her adored brother, Bill, and mother had relocated.

She returned to Washington a few years later, in time to see the first of the grandchildren begin to explore their new world.

Bobby remained close to her children, Stephanni, Suzanne, Bradley, and daughter-in-law Roseanne; her grandchildren, Siera, Sterling, Cheyenne, James, Nicholas, Kathleen, William, and Julianna; and her great-grandchildren, Arianna, Katrina, Jackson, Carson, Leander, John, Dominic, Lydia, Nora, Daniel, and Millie.

Bobby chose to be known as Nanny when her first granddaughter was born.

Nanny's continued love of fun, adventure, and travel evolved with the grandchildren, both in their childhood and as adults.

Camping, home stays, spring breaks, sports, celebrations, school events, all were a good time to be had and she did not miss any invitations.

It is well known that Nanny's love of games and cards meant that the grandchildren were all taught to enjoy the spirit of camaraderie and rousing competition.

Stephanni took Bobby flying in small Cessna aircraft, booked her an island stay on a boat, and ensured many memories were made with her grandchildren.

Bobby embarked upon a return trip to Italy with her son Bradley that also included a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Invitations to visit Africa and Russia by her nephew Michael and daughter Suzanne resulted in more adventures, with her last overseas trip taken at age 81 to Ethiopia.

To all who have inherited this spirit of fun, adventure, and learning, it is easy to see that she is the seed.

Bobby's brother William ‘Bill’ Posey and sister Mona Lee Baugus, known as ‘Honey’ preceded her in death.