BARBARA JEAN WALT KOZMA:  Mother, Grandmother, Sister

BARBARA JEAN WALT KOZMA, 68, of 611 Martha Ave., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at Olean General Hospital following a brief illness.

Barb was born in Springville, NY on January 3, 1956. Daughter of the late Clyde & Dorothy Walt of Fillmore, NY.

She graduated from Fillmore Central School in 1974 and later graduated from Jamestown Community College, Olean Campus in 1994 with an Associate’s Degree in Human Resource Management.  Barb was a former Domestic Violence Task Force Board member for Allegany County.

Barb worked various jobs throughout her life but was currently employed at the Olean Walmart for the past nine years.

She was an active member of the Cuba American Legion Post 655 Auxiliary.

Barb loved gardening, painting, country music, the customers that she met through her employment at Walmart and her sporty yellow Camaro! She loved her family and friends and always encouraged those around her. She had a strong faith in Jesus and loved her dogs & cats. Barb was known to be a prankster! She loved her Coffee & made the best Lasagna! Christmas was her favorite holiday. Barb had a kind smile that lit up a room.

Surviving are four daughters, Tamara (Ricky) Courson of Okechobee, FL, Lisa Crews of Cuba, NY, Rachael (Robert) Tredway of Black Creek, NY and Heather Fahnestock of Olean, NY, eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Also surviving are her four sisters, Nancy (Michael) Makowski of Fillmore, Lori (Steve) Dougherty, Hillsborough, NC, Donna (Carl) Beil, of Cuba and Sherri (Dave) Hunt of Caneadea and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Barb was predeceased by her brother Clyde Walt Jr and sister, Penny Walt.

The family will receive friends at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull Street, Cuba on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 10:00 A.M. until Noon.  A Funeral will be held in the funeral home at Noon.  The Rev. Tyrone Hall will officiate.

Burial will be in Cuba Cemetery, Cuba, New York.

Memorials may be made to Cattaraugus County SPCA.

Online condolences may be sent at www.rinkerfuneralhome.com