Obituary of Barbara Gayle Pavlechko

Barbara Gayle (Buckner) Pavlechko, 70, passed away on Saturday January 23, 2021 at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Pennsylvania. She was born on June 21, 1950, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Charles Randall Buckner and Elizabeth Jane (Gornall) Buckner.

"Bucky" grew up in the Youngstown suburb of Austintown. She graduated from Austintown-Fitch High School in 1968. She participated in marching band and dance band, playing the saxophone. After high school she attended college at Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, where she studied Accounting.

She began full-time work for The Pennsylvania State University as a secretary in the College of Education in 1970. She then began her own business as a professional tailor and moved through retail sales positions at many businesses in town. In 1991, she was hired as secretary for the State College Area High School Counseling Department and moved to the position of secretary to the high school principal until her retirement in 2009. During her career with the school district, she served officially as class advisor for one year and as unofficial spirit-sponsor and friend to students throughout the high school.

Barb married Ronald James Pavlechko in 1968. They were happily married for 52 years until Ron's death in 2020. She was a member of the Penn State Catholic Campus Ministry Community. While tailoring served as Barb's full and part-time vocation for many years, all matters of the sewing, embroidery and knitting crafts were her life's avocation. Her creations of coats, suits, sport coats, dresses, blouses, T-shirts, hats, scarves and mittens have been worn by her and her family, friends and relatives of all ages.

Barb was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her younger brother Mark Randall Buckner, and her older sister Georgina (Gina) Solinger.

Barb is survived by her sons Timothy Pavlechko of Lewisburg, PA, and Aaron (Leslie) Pavlechko of State College, PA; her grandchildren Ella, Lauren and Nicholas; and her nieces and nephews and other relatives.

A private graveside service at Boalsburg Cemetery will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Mount Nittany Medical Center's Grateful Patient Program in care of Mount Nittany Health Foundation, 1800 East Park Avenue, State College, PA 16803 or https://foundation.mountnittany.org/give.

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.