![\"Barbara](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Barbara-Sparrow.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWe are not able to write our usual blog this week. \u00a0We won’t be able to start your day with a chuckle, either laughing with – or at – our writing. \u00a0Last Tuesday, our mother passed away as a result of a fall that broke five of her ribs and …well, simply being 94 years old. \u00a0In a twist that makes you believe in fate, she was transferred from the community hospital in Sonoma to Marin County General. \u00a0When I heard that news I thought that maybe her life was coming full circle. \u00a0It was in Marin County that she grew up, met and married our dad, and then raised us three kids. \u00a0So it was only fitting that Marin County is where she would spend her final days. \u00a0And in another twist of fate, she died just one day shy of the anniversary of our dad’s death. \u00a0They were both huge 49er fans and we are now comforted in knowing that they were together to watch their favorite team play in the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n
In tribute to her we are posting her obituary:<\/p>\n
Barbara Whitman Sparrow, resident of Sonoma, California, passed away on January 29, 2013, just two weeks shy of her 94th<\/sup> birthday.<\/p>\n Barbara was raised in San Anselmo, California and graduated in 1936 from San Rafael High School.\u00a0 Barbara attended secretarial school in San Francisco after graduation and over the years made good use of her education.<\/p>\n Barbara met her future husband, Jack Sparrow, at San Rafael High and they were married in 1937. \u00a0They moved to Novato in 1939 and in 1940 they bought the Novato Advance<\/i> newspaper.\u00a0 <\/i>At the time it made them the youngest newspaper publishers in California.\u00a0 Together they performed all of the jobs necessary to write, print and distribute the Advance<\/i>.\u00a0 Barbara learned to use a linotype machine to help out, but her greatest contribution was her reporting of the town\u2019s social events in her columns \u201cA Little Bird Told Me\u201d which was subsequently re-titled \u201cA Bird\u2019s Eye View\u201d.<\/p>\n After Barbara and Jack sold the paper, Jack went into business for himself and Barbara pursued her own career.\u00a0 She held positions at Crocker National Bank and the Novato Unified School District.<\/p>\n Barbara was very active in Novato civic organizations.\u00a0 She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Novato Community Players, and in 1950 was a co-founder of the Novato chapter of the Sunny Hills Guild.\u00a0 She was a member of the Business and Professional Women\u2019s Foundation, serving as the Northern California President for two years.\u00a0 In addition she led Boy Scout troops and volunteered at Novato General Hospital.<\/p>\n In 1977 Barbara and Jack retired in Sonoma.\u00a0 But retirement was not in the cards for Barbara.\u00a0 She took a part-time job at Vineyard Jewelers and worked there well into her 80\u2019s.\u00a0 Barbara was active in Sonoma activities, joining the Sonoma Valley Women\u2019s Association and the Sonoma Swingers golf group.\u00a0 She was also a member of the \u00a0United Methodist Church in Sonoma.<\/p>\n Barbara is survived by her son Jack Jr. and his wife Sharon of Santa Maria, son Bob and his wife Linda of Orange County, and her daughter Suzanne and her husband Alan Watson, of Scottsdale, Arizona.\u00a0 She is also survived by her five grandchildren Shelley Watson and Matt Sparrow of Tucson, Arizona, Stephanie Shomer of Glendale, Dana Borelli of Monrovia, Jeff Sparrow of Orange County. step-grandson Colin Watson of Walnut Creek and step-grandaughter Wendy Watson Topalian of Leawood, Kansas.\u00a0 Additionally she was blessed to have great grandchildren Katie and Abby Watson of Tucson, AZ., Jackson and Madelyn Sparrow of Tucson, Dylan and Emma Shomer of Glendale, and step-greatgrandsons Matthew and Jake Topalian of Leawood.\u00a0 Barbara is also survived by her brother Neill of Sonoma and sister Geraldine of Sun City, Florida.<\/p>\n Private services will be held by the family.\u00a0 Memorial contributions may be made to the Sunny Hills Children\u2019s Garden, 300 Sunny Hills Drive, San Anselmo, CA. 94960.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Suzanne Sparrow Watson and Bob Sparrow We are not able to write our usual blog this week. \u00a0We won’t be able to start your day with a chuckle, either laughing with – or at – our writing. \u00a0Last Tuesday, … read more