Barbara Oates

Barbara June Oates, 82, died at 4:51 a.m., Monday, March 9, 2015 at her residence.She was born in St. Louis, Mo., on June 12, 1932, and was one of two children born to the late Joseph & Edith E. (Geir) Schmittag.Barbara was employed at Owens-Illinois in Alton for 32 years and 9 months before the plant closed in 1984.She married James P. Oates on Jan. 8, 1949 in Alton, and together they shared 30 years together before his death on March 19, 1979.Surviving are a son & daughter in law, James & Ruth Ann Oates of Jerseyville; six grandchildren & their spouses, Gary & Kim Benedict of Lake Ozark, Mo., Michelle Ewen of Jerseyville, Marianne & Tony Bowers of Jerseyville, Lisa & Justin Huett of Glasgow, Ky., JD & Tiffany Oates of Jerseyville, and Lori Brown of Kent, Il.;  11 Great Grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and a lifelong best friend, Becky (Hampton) Jacobs of East Alton.In addition to her parents & husband, she was preceded in death by two daughters & a son in law, Jenny R. Oates and Connie & James Benedict; a grandson in law, David Ewen; a granddaughter, Breanne Ferguson; a great granddaughter, Tristan Stark; and a brother, Harvey Schmittag.Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m.  Rev. Olin Hill will officiate.Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home