Barbara R. Jones (Fought)

Barbara R. Jones (Fought) passed away suddenly on August 8, 2016 at the age of 74 after another wonderful vacation to the beach with her husband, daughters and their families. 

She was a 1960 graduate of Mogadore High School and received her BA in Education from the University of Akron and a Masters in Special Education from Kent State University. The ever beautiful former professional model was a proud Special Education teacher and Jobs Training Coordinator for the Akron Public Schools, retiring in 2011 just in time for the birth of her precious grandchildren who made her final four years the best of her well-lived life. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Okey and Thelma Fought and her niece, Cathy Phillips. Barb will be forever missed by her husband, David of 50 years; her daughters and their families, Julie Jones and Mishelle Harriger and Jenifer and Joe Berardi, and grandchildren, Joseph and Julia Berardi and Jensen Jones. She will also be missed by her brother and sisters, Ben and Rosalie Fought, Karen and Norman Phillips, Mary Ann and John Fuller and Sue and Grant Bennett; her beloved nieces and nephews and their children. 

Aside from spoiling her grandchildren incessantly, Barb loved to travel, particularly to the beach and around the country with Dave and Jen, fully taking advantage of the benefits provided by Jen’s job as a flight attendant. She was also the biggest fan of the Akron Zips and CSU Vikings softball teams, traveling all over the country with the team as the proud mom of the coach. A member of The Chapel in Akron/Green, she was also a dedicated volunteer for the Women’s Board of the Summit County Juvenile Court. Her service to this group was just an extension of her work as a teacher, always fighting for those who needed love and help. 

Barb was blessed with a loving and incredibly close extended family who she loved spending time with at birthday parties, graduations, games, concerts and any other significant event in the lives of her nieces and nephews and their children. She treated them as if they were her own children and grandchildren. She will be remembered as a kind, generous soul who wore a beautiful and sincere smile. She was the best Nani to her grandchildren, the lights of her life, who will miss her unconditional love. Barb carried herself with class and grace and was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. She fought for what was right for her family, her students or anyone else who needed a champion and particularly for those who could not fight for themselves. Her undying faith in the love of Jesus Christ proves to us that we again will see her smile and feel her love. 

Friends may visit Sunday, August 14th from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Road, Akron, OH 44312. Funeral services will be Monday, August 15th at 11 a.m. at the Firestone Park Christian Church, 40. E. Wilbeth Road, Akron, OH 44301 with her nephew, Mark Phillips presiding. Friends may visit at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday as well. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Women’s Board of Summit County Juvenile Court, 650 Dan Street, Akron, OH 44310 or to the University of Akron Softball/Z-Fund, 297B AFLD, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325.