Obituary of Jean Earla LaBarca

Jean Earla LaBarca, 97, of State College, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 20, 2017, at Greenhills Village, State College. Born July 2, 1920, in Rew, she was the daughter of the late Earl John and Zelda Wooster Hyatt. Jean was a 1937 graduate of Bradford High School. She received her Bachelor's degree in Home Economics from Hood College, Frederick, MD in 1941. After graduation, she went to work for Macy's in New York City. There she met Russell P. LaBarca, who was in merchandising, Jean in management. They married in February, 1953 and resided in Glen Head, NY. In addition to her husband of 64 years, she is survived by two sons, Joseph E. LaBarca and his wife, Kate, of Rochester, NY and Robert R. LaBarca and his wife, Cindy, of State College; four grandchildren, Irene Battaglia and her husband, Devon, Jean Lin and her husband, Steven, Russell LaBarca and his wife, Lauren and Christy Klenke and her husband, Jeremy; she was also blessed with six great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters. A woman ahead of her time, Jean flew Piper Cubs in the 1940's, and in later years worked for SubComm, a U.S. Navy defense contractor, in Glen Cove, NY. She loved entertaining and was a gourmet cook. From 1994 until 2008, the LaBarca's lived in Lewisburg, where Jean was a volunteer at the Evangelical Community Hospital and the Slifer House Museum. In 2008, they moved to State College, where Jean attended Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Visitation will be at 2pm until 3pm, on Tuesday, October 24 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 851 Science Park Road, State College, PA. A funeral service will follow at 3pm at the church, with the Reverend Bryan J. Spang officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Preschool, 851 Science Park Rd, State College, PA 16803. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.