Barbara Ann Williams (age 79)
October 24, 2025

Williams – Barbara Ann, 79 (Ebensburg, PA), passed away peacefully, surrounded by her three loving daughters, on October 24, 2025.  Born on January 21, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan, Barbara was the daughter of Walter J. Williams Sr. and Helen T. (Lapczynski) Williams.  She is preceded in death by her parents, and brother Walter J. Williams Jr.

Barbara is survived by her beloved daughters Eileen (Julius) Thomas, Leila (Tom) Wolfe, and Allison (Richard) Stancombe all of Johnstown, PA, her grandchildren Julius Thomas III and Hunter Thomas, Brianna and Annalise Martin, Dalis Wolfe, and Jenna, Ryan, Cassidy and Jorja Stancombe, her brother Robert T. Williams, St. Clair Shores, Michigan, sister Lorraine Kolodziej, Hamtramck, Michigan, sister Marie (David) Bargiel, Troy, Michigan, and several nieces and nephews.

Barbara was a 1964 graduate of St. Ladislaus High School in Hamtramck, Michigan.  After graduation, she was employed by the Detroit Tigers Baseball Club as a Professional Secretary.

Barbara’s daughters and grandchildren were the most important people in the world to her, and she shared her love and pride in them with everyone she met. “1 Corinthians 13”, the Love Chapter, was Barbara’s theme in life.  She spread God’s love everywhere she went, sharing her infamous God Bless You and Jesus Loves You bookmarks as often as she could.  Barbara had an outgoing personality and great sense of humor, making friends and leaving an impression on everyone.  She loved to laugh (even at herself), dance, sing, paint, and show her Polish heritage pride.  She was the biggest cheerleader for her grandchildren, attending as many sporting events, performances, activities, graduations, ceremonies, and special events as she could.  She made sure they always knew she loved them and was proud of them.

Barbara had a great passion for people, volunteering and helping others in so many ways including The Backpack Project, The Girl Scouts of America, The American Red Cross, Windber Palliative and Hospice Care, Pastoral Ministries, St. Stephen Ministries, and serving as a nurse’s aide.  Her strength, independence, and faith in the Lord, will continue to be an inspiration to her family and friends.  She will be greatly missed.

The family would like to thank Pastor Rob Wolfe of Pleasant Hill Community Church, Johnstown, PA, and Father Brian Warchola of Holy Name Catholic Church, Ebensburg, PA, who visited and provided comfort and care to her and her daughters during her hospital and nursing home stay.  They would also like to extend a special thanks to the amazing caregivers at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Arbutus Park Retirement Community Skilled Nursing Unit, and Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center Emergency Room and especially Palliative Care Unit, who provided such skilled and compassionate care to not only Barbara, but to the family as well.  Her daughters will forever be grateful for their support, as well as the support and love from family and countless friends and loved ones.

At Barbara’s request, there will be no public viewing or service.  She will be inurned with her mother Helen at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan.