April 22, 2019

Linn County News

Published April 24, 2019

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, Barbara Ann (Myers) Panas passed away at the age of 75 in Zion Crossroads, Va., after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Barbara was born in Mound City, Kan., on April 17, 1943, to Blake and Nellie (Douthit) Myers. She was the third eldest of 10 siblings raised by Blake and Nellie.

Immediately after graduating Mound City High School in 1961, she joined the U.S. Navy. Her time served was primarily spent as a flight steward out of Norfolk, Va. It was in the Navy that Barbara met her husband, Theodore Panas of Syracuse, N.Y. They were wed on Oct. 16, 1962. After honorable discharges from the Navy, Barb and Ted returned to Syracuse to start a family where they raised four boys, Nick, Dan, Kevin and TJ.

Barbara’s career was in insurance claims, but her passions were her family and numerous hobbies. She was an avid reader and a wonderful gardener; she decorated beautiful cakes and made the best gingerbread houses. She played softball and enjoyed snow and water skiing. She loved to travel, including Caribbean and Alaskan cruises and road trips across the U.S.

After retirement, Barb and Ted headed to Fort Myers, Fla., where they were involved in all social events their community had to offer, from shuffleboard and bocce ball, to dinners and game nights. Barbara also led line-dancing sessions in Florida, a talent she brought to Virginia when she moved in November 2017 to the delight of many of her new neighbors.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Panas; her mother and father, Blake and Nellie Myers; and her siblings, JC Myers, Mary Morton, Kate Prock and Keith Myers.

She is survived by her four sons, Nick, Dan, Kevin and TJ; her siblings, Jennie McKay, Darrell Myers, Harold Myers, Diane Freeman and Sue Stites; her 18 grandchildren; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held on April 13, 2019, at St. Mary’s Church in Auburn, New York. Following the service was a memorial reception at Springside Inn on Owasco Lake, Auburn.

Donations may be made to Hospice of the Piedmont (www.hopva.org).