Barbara V. Bogie of Oxford passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at the NYS Veteran’s Home, Oxford after a short, but courageous battle with cancer.
Barbara was born on February 17, 1927 in College Point, NY the daughter of the late John and Magdalena (Eichert) Volk. Her family moved to East Oxford when she was four years of age, eventually settling on a 190 acre farm on County Route 27. Barbara attended a one room schoolhouse until 8th grade, when she went to Oxford Academy Central School District, where she was a proud graduate of the Class of 1944. Following graduation she worked a brief time for Casein in Bainbridge, and then the National Banks in Norwich and Oxford. In 1952 she was hired by the Oxford Academy and Central School as its District Clerk and Clerk of the Board of Education, a position she held until her retirement in 1979. At that time she and her husband Albert moved to Florida, returning to her beloved Oxford in 2000 to be with her family and friends.
Barbara is survived by her daughter and son in law, Anna and Terry Stark of Oxford; her son and his fiancé, Robert Whittaker and Sharon Lester of Oxford; her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Kelly and Joe Spence and their children, Jack, Marianna and Maeve of Oxford, and Ryan and Jessica Stark and children, Avery, Grady and Finnegan of Chenango Forks; her step daughters, Janet Coe and daughter Janell of Mt. Dora, FL and Donna and Pat Ford and children, Eric and Lindsey of Delran, NJ; her brother and sister in law, Peter John and Helen Volk of Zephyrhills, FL. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and relatives in Germany and her favorite cousin’s son, Michael Scally and his wife Rose of Whitestone, NY. She was predeceased by her husbands, Ross Whittaker and Albert Bogie.
Barbara was a staunch believer in volunteerism and community service. In December 2013 she was honored by the NYS Assembly for her 61 years of service to the American Legion Auxiliary as a member and as a past president. She worked weekly at the Oxford American Legion breakfast and was a 9 year volunteer at the NYS Veteran’s Home. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Church and the St. Joseph Society, where she faithfully worked luncheons and set tables for the fish dinners. She was a member and served as treasurer of the Oxford Historical Society and a member of the Women’s Coffee and Birthday Clubs. She truly loved the Oxford community and her many friends.
Barbara’s family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the NYS Veteran’s Home, especially the staff of Spruce Cottage, for the care given to her since her admission.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Church, State St., Oxford. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Behe Funeral Home, 21 Main St., Oxford on Tuesday, May 27 from 3-6 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph Society, PO Box 352, Oxford, NY. Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting www.behefuneralhome.com.