BARBARA ANN RUOPP

Dec. 15, 1941 – Feb. 15, 2024

Barbara passed away in the Bishop Care Center February 15th after a lengthy illness.

Barbara Switzler was born in Sheridan, Montana and moved to Petersburg, Alaska at the age of 7 together with her mother, Marian and younger sister Linda. Barbara and her family spent summers on the Akwe qiver, Yakutat where her stepfather commercially gillnetted salmon to be sold at Dry Bay. She attended school in Petersburg during the fishing off season.

Barbara met and married her husband, John quopp, a forester with the US Forest Service, in Petersburg in 1962. They transferred to the Craig qanger District in 1963 and moved to Edna Bay, a logging camp on Kosciusko Island where John Jr. (Jay) was born. Daughter Julie was born in Sitka, Alaska after the family moved from Craig, Alaska.

After moves to Juneau, AK, Aurora and Bemidji, Minnesota, Barbara and family returned to Ketchikan, Alaska in 1977. Barbara and her family then moved to Bishop in 1981 where John worked at the Inyo NF headquarters office. Barbara spent her remaining years in Bishop, working a number of different jobs until her husband, John, retired from the Forest Service. Barbara then worked beside her husband John and his partner, Tom Lewis and wife, Shirley in their company Inyo qecreation Enterprises. Inyo qec. operated NF campgrounds in Big Pine, Bishop, McGee and qock Creek drainages as concessionaires for the US Forest Service.

Barbara was a supportive wife and mother who coordinate the multiple moves, enrolling John Jr. and Julie in new schools and setting up housekeeping in new homes and communities. She made these moves with a smile on her face and no complaints. Barbara was a wonderful grandmother, always having “Gramma days” with the grandkids and attending as many sports and school events as possible. She was a loving and giving person who will be sorely missed by her family.

Barbara leaves behind her husband John, son John Jr., (wife Julie) and daughter Julie Hall (husband Jeff) of Bishop. Barbara was blessed with four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; Meagan Martinez of New Orleans, LA married to Morgan and having twins qoman and Willow, Lindsey Gonzalez, Bishop, married to Alex and having Eliana and Liam, grandson Andy Watt of Bishop and granddaughter Tessa quopp. Barbara’s son John Jr., wife Julie, and granddaughter Tessa reside in the Seattle, WA area.