Barbara Ann Schwartz

Barbara Ann Smith Olsen Schwartz departed gracefully and peacefully from this world on June 15, 2025. Barb was born on September 7, 1933 to Charles G. Smith and Mary Delegan Smith in Chicago, Illinois. She had a happy childhood with her parents and younger sister, Charlene, and her uncle, George Delegan who was 9 years older than her and raised by her parents.

On April 3, 1954, Barb married Alan J. Olsen. They had three daughters, Kimberly, Kandace and Alana. They lived in the Chicago area until 1967 when they moved to Lakeland, Florida. They owned a restaurant called The Red Barn. Barb was active in publicizing the restaurant, including doing an on-site radio show. In 1973 they gave up their franchise and Barb went to work at a local savings and loan.

After moving to Texas in 1976, she worked for another savings and loan as a branch manager. She and Alan divorced in 1978 and she continued working in the banking industry as a regional manager. In 1982, she married Clarence Schwartz and soon after, they moved to Taylor, Texas where she lived for the next 17 years until they divorced.

After her divorce, Barb created a busy life for herself near Austin, Texas. She reinvented her life as a single person in Texas, working at the local Methodist church, building wonderful close friendships, taking fun trips with those friends, tooling around in her red car and especially maintaining close relationships with her kids and grandkids by jumping on a plane for milestones and visits.

Barb never met a person who didn't become a friend. She was kind, funny, supportive and had a frank manner about herself that made you laugh. She called you sweetie, honey, baby, baby girl...in true Texas fashion.

She was also courageous and challenged herself to make beneficial changes all her life. In 2008, she made a huge life change and moved to Minnesota to live with her daughter, Kandace, and her husband, Scott. Barb loved Minnesota and it became home. She joined White Bear Lake United Methodist Church and was active in church activities. She made new friends and took advantage of everything Minnesota had to offer. She especially loved driving around the St. Croix valley with her dear friend, Doreen, visiting craft shows and having lunch out. She spent many winters living with her daughter, Alana and her family in the Austin, Texas area, keeping up with family and friends she had made there over the years.

Barb had her pearls of wisdom, too. "Only sugar melts" (about going out in the rain); "time wounds all heels;" Your dreads never happen;" and many more. Barb was eternally optimistic and offered positive support to everyone she knew. She was a passionate baseball fan beginning with the Chicago Cubs and ending with the Minnesota Twins. She rarely missed a game on TV or the radio. She even had a shrine to the Twins in her apartment at Kandace's home.

Barb was predeceased by her parents, her sister, and her uncle. She is survived by her daughters, Kimberly Barksdale (David), Kandace Olsen (Scott Peterson), and Alana Voll (Fred); also grandchildren, Daniel Newsome (Jenn), Alexander Wolsky (Bethany Winkels), J.D. Barksdale (Kate), Drew Heaton, and Madison Edwards; bonus grandchildren, Megan Peterson, Isaac Peterson (Leslie), and Dr. Ellen Peterson, Nick Voll and Kristi Vol; great grandchildren, Audrey, Elias, Josie, Soren, Lydia, Blakely, Summer, Esmé, Berkleigh, Deacon and Charlotte, Ella and Grayson; also precious "fourth daughter" Margie Grilley, Dorian Grilley; and special "grandkids", Davis and Clare.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 9th, 11:00 AM at White Bear United Methodist Church, 1851 Birch St., White Bear Lake, MN. A visitation will begin at 10:30 AM.