VESTAL, N.Y.---Barbara W. Press, 84, of Vestal, formerly of Ithaca, N.Y., Dansville, N.Y., Liberty, N.Y., and Shinglehouse, Pa., passed away in her home with her loving family by her side on Monday, October 12, 2020, after ongoing health issues.
Born on Thursday, October 8,
1936 in Olean, N.Y., she was a daughter of Ira W. and Gertrude Mills
Press.
Barbara was a graduate of Shinglehouse High School, Class of 1954
and a graduate of Mansfield Teacher’s College, Class of 1958 with a Bachelor’s
of Science degree, majoring in English with a minor in math. She later received her Master’s Degree in
Mathematics from the University of Buffalo and a Master’s Plus Degree in
Guidance Counseling from Cornell University.
Barbara was a longtime Math and English teacher. She was named Teacher of the Year while
teaching in Ithaca.
Barbara was a member of Vestal United Methodist Church and a
member of the W.B.E.T. Retirement Group.
She founded the Dansville Community Chorus and later the Vestal
Community Chorus, retiring in 2015. She
loved cats, music, traveling, games, and spending time with friends and family.
Surviving are a daughter, Robin L. (Rob) Hierl; two beloved
granddaughters, Vanessa L. (Dylan) Hutchings and Victoria “Torie” Hierl; a
brother, Harlan L. (Jackie) Press; two great-grandsons, Carsyn and Beckham; a
niece, Laura Kinney; and a nephew, Michael Press.
In addition to her parents, Barbara was predeceased by a brother,
Phillip E. Press.
Private funeral services will be held at the Virgil L. Howard
Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, Pa., with the Rev. Lea Harding, officiating. Burial
will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery, Shinglehouse, Pa.
A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on a date and place
to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Barbara’s name may be made to
Project Paw in Binghamton at info.projectpaw@gmail.com
Barbara entrusted her care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral
director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse. To express condolences or share a fond memory
of Barbara, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com
or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.
