Patricia Ann Barber

Patricia “Pat” Ann Barber was born in Washington, D.C., to the late Ulas Grant Jacobs and Lossie W. Jacobs. Her family later moved to Clinton, North Carolina, where she attended primary and secondary school alongside her brother, Charles Jacobs. She went on to earn a degree in social work from Fayetteville State College and began her professional life as a social worker in New York City before moving to California. In California, Pat earned her Master of Arts degree in special education from Sonoma State University. She devoted more than thirty years to serving students in the Vallejo City Unified School District, including at Franklin Middle School, Vallejo High School and Jesse Bethel High School. Her love for teaching continued after retirement when she taught life skills at Vallejo Adult School. Pat was deeply committed to service, community, and the well-being of children. She was active with Meals on Wheels, Greater Vallejo Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Kappa Beta Omega Chapter. She also led the Shade Project at St. Catherine of Siena School, ensuring children would not have to sit in the hot sun while eating lunch. Beyond her service, Pat enjoyed listening to music, gardening, painting, traveling, and spending time with her beloved grandsons. Family was central to Pat’s life. She shared 57 years of marriage with her loving husband, Johnnie B. Barber, Jr. Together, they raised their daughter, Ty-Sonja Rutkauskas and as Pat would say along the way they gained another daughter in Sunny O’Donnell-Simkonis. Pat was a proud grandma to three boys, Romanas Simkonis, Alexander Rutkauskas, and Dainius Simkonis. She was also an active volunteer at St. Catherine of Siena School in support of Alexander and the school community. Pat is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Ty-Sonja Rutkauskas and Sunny O’Donnell- Simkonis; her grandsons, Romanas Simkonis, Alexander Rutkauskas, and Dainius Simkonis; her sisters-in-law, India Barber, Cardinalli Barber, Kathy Barber, and Britt Jacobs; her brother-in law, Paul Barber; her nieces and goddaughters, Sharonda Barber-Cooks, Tenisha Jacobs, Joycelyn Dawson, Anne Lundy, and Avril Rockwood; her nephew, Charles Jacobs, Jr.; her great nephew, Drake Rankin; her cousins Joyce Graham and Carolyn Flood-Goode; and a host of cousins and friends from the East Coast to the West Coast. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ulas Grant Jacobs and Lossie W. Jacobs; her brother, Charles Jacobs; her mother-in-law, Ruth A. Barber; her father-in-law, Johnnie B. Barber, Sr.; her brother-in-law, Frankie A. Barber; and relatives Matt and Rhoda Dawson. Pat made friends wherever she went, and her warmth, faith, service, and devotion to family leaves a legacy of love in the lives of all who knew and loved her. Visitation will be held on Sunday August 2nd from 4-8 PM with a vigil service starting at 5 PM at Twin Chapels Mortuary, 1100 Tennessee St., Vallejo. Mass will be held Monday, August 3 at 11 AM at St. Catherine’s Church, Vallejo. Burial will immediately follow at All Soul’s Cemetery, Vallejo.

Patricia Ann Barber

March 30, 1946 - July 22, 2026