Barbara (Cull) Jedenoff was born in Douglas, AZ in 1923 and passed away in Pleasant Hill, CA, on May 11, 2018. Her father, John Porter Cull, was born in Cull Canyon (near Hayward, CA) in 1873, and was a distinguished cattle rancher, businessman, and State Senator in Arizona. Her mother, Georgina Henninger Cull, was born in San Diego, CA in 1889, moving to Arizona in 1901.
Barbara’s only brother, John, passed away in 2008. Barbara graduated from Douglas High School in 1936, as a top student and valedictorian. She enrolled at Stanford University, pledging Chi Omega sorority, where she met her future husband, George.
Barbara graduated in February 1943, and immediately married George in the Stanford Chapel. During World War II, Barbara worked at the Southern Pacific Company, while her husband served with the Navy in the Pacific. For much of their 75 years of happy married life, Barbara was a homemaker, raising two children, and supporting her husband in his busy career.
George served as General Manager of three different steel plants, then Vice President – Operations of US Steel in the company’s headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA. Barbara and George moved back to California in 1974, when George was appointed President of Kaiser Steel Company. Barbara was an avid reader, enjoying her participation in the Stanford book club, and the Stanford East Bay Women’s club.
She was active with the Muir Branch of Children’s Hospital and Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church. She loved to knit and create needlepoint, sharing her crafts with friends. She enjoyed traveling and journeyed extensively in Europe, Asia, and the Americas A very devoted, caring and supportive person, Barbara made friends wherever they lived.
She was always a lady, always calm, always genuine. Her keen sense of fairness and justice was a of valuable counsel to her husband and family. She loved her two children: Nick Jedenoff and Nina Billett (Joe); her four grandchildren: Julie Smith Volpert (Will), Stephanie Billett, Josh Billett, Ashley Billett; and her four great grand children: Elijah Smith, Carson Volpert, Emma Volpert, and Owen Hoffman- Billett.
On May 11, 2018, Barbara died peacefully from respiratory problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Her family is comforted by the realization that her suffering near the end of a long illness, has come to an end. Their love for Barbara will continue.
The family wishes to give special thanks to the caregivers and staff of the Carlton Senior Living facility-Poets Corner in Pleasant Hill, and the hospice unit at Carlton for the wonderful, loving care that they gave to our beloved Barbara. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Children’s Hospital in Oakland would be appreciated. A celebration of life and memorial is planned for Saturday, June 2, 2018, at 11 AM, at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette, CA 94549.
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