Barbara Jane (Watson) Votapka of Vestal passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 13, 2017. She was 88. She was predeceased by her parents, James and Millie Watson, and her loving husband of 55 years, Otto. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio on April 30, 1929. She is survived by seven children, Jan of Vestal, Gregory (Debbie) of Waukesha, WI, Jeffrey of Waukesha, WI, Pamela (Jerry) Skonieczki of Endwell, Penny (Dave) Evans of Apalachin, Todd (Jodi) of Binghamton and Peggy of Endicott. She is also survived by ten grandchildren – Alan, Brandon and Hilary Votapka, Stephanie Reardon, Alexandra Reynolds, Adam Skonieczki, Katelyn Votapka, Jake Grassi, and Jasmine and Jacquelynn Votapka and three great grandchildren – Isla and Cash Skonieczki and Charlotte Votapka. Barb graduated from Odessa Central School, class of 1946, and Beardsleys Business School. After working as a private secretary for Cotton-Hanlon, Inc., she and Otto were married in 1952 and moved to Vestal. Barb enjoyed bowling for over 50 years and also camping and boating with the family. She and Otto lived in Florida for several years after he retired where they both enjoyed bowling and traveling. She was a member of the Vestal Senior Citizens group and a member of the Vestal United Methodist Church. The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Mercy House for the wonderful care and compassion they provided.
Funeral and Interment Services will be held Sunday 3 pm from the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott. Burial will be in Vestal Park Cemetery at the convenience of the family. The family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home Sunday from 1 pm until service time at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Mercy House of the Southern Tier, 212 North McKinley Avenue, Endicott, NY 13760.