Beatriz Barbere December 8, 1932 - January 8, 2025

Beatriz "Bea" Barbere, 92, of Lompoc, passed away on January 8, 2025
A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 8
at the Lompoc Foursquare Church, 125 N C St, Lompoc.

Born in Del Rio, Texas, in 1932, Bea was raised and attended school there. When she was old enough, her family went to Idaho to pick crops during the summers. Her father left the family, and Bea began working in retail during High School to help with the family finances. After her mother died in 1957, Bea stayed in Del Rio to help care for her younger brothers.

In 1961, Bea moved to Santa Barbara, California, where she began working at S. H. Kress & Co. She met Thomas and married on January 6, 1963.  Nine months later, they welcomed their son Robert Anthony into the world. In March of 1967, they welcomed their second child, Mark Steven.

Bea followed her husband to various locations as he moved up in his career while raising her two children; she continued to work in retail in multiple positions, starting as a salesclerk and moving up to managing the store's various departments. As a mother and a wife, she was the center of the Barbere household. A wise and guiding spirit to her children, she taught them to have loving spirits and that one of the most important ideals, besides faith in the Lord Jesus, was to be happy in all you do and all you have. Bea supported her husband through the ups and downs in life, and her love and prayers kept the family firm.

In her retirement, she spent many hours gardening in the backyard with her husband, being the joy and light in his life.

Bea has lived with her family in Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, CA; Ogden, UT; Ridgecrest, CA; Carpinteria, CA; Goleta; and Lompoc, CA. She worked retail at S.H. Kress, Woolworth, and Kmart and again at Woolworth, J.C. Penny, Rexall, and TG&Y. Bea finished her career at Walgreens in Goleta.

Bea was a woman of simple and determined faith in her Lord Jesus, and she has returned to him. Throughout her life, Bea has been a church choir member and has donated to many charities.

Bea is survived by her husband, Thomas Barbere, her sons Robert and Mark, and their families, which consist of five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her brother, Mark Contreras, is the last surviving sibling of nine.

She is predeceased by her siblings Ernestina, Lucila, Irma, Esteban, Joel, Hector, and Daniel, as well as her parents Esteban and Martha Contreras.