Barbara Lou Heidt Genger Owens
August 28, 1928 – July 14, 2016
Born in Oakland, CA, Barbara was predeceased by her parents John Wesley Heidt and Lucille Elizabeth Hinch and her brother William “Bill” Heidt. She was the niece of the late Horace Heidt, bandleader and radio/television personality.
Barbara grew up in Piedmont, CA and attended Beach Elementary and Piedmont HS where she made lifelong friends and met her first husband Richard Genger. They raised their daughter Elizabeth “Beth” in the Oakland Hills. There you could find Barbara dressed in her Girl Scout Leader uniform selling cookies alongside Beth or redecorating her beautiful home. She was a member of Children’s Hospital “BH” in high school and later a member of Children’s Hospital Rowan Branch where she served as president. She was also a member of the Junior Center of Arts & Science of Oakland. Barbara had a flare for interior decorating and with her daughter they opened BB Interiors. She loved gardening as well as shopping (from Hong Kong to Lafayette)! She married Mark Owens in 1992 and lived in Moraga before moving to Orinda and then to Bryon Park in Walnut Creek. They traveled the world from the capitols of Europe and throughout the US. Her love of travel also took her to a cooking school in Italy, a health spa in Germany and many trips to Mexico, Hawaii & Alaska. Her happiest times were spent with family in Lake Tahoe and Pebble Beach.
Barbara Lou had the most beautiful spirit - a smile that was never ending - she was perpetually happy. In high school they called her “Bubbles” and the staff at Trader Vics nicknamed her “Mrs. Happy”. Family meant the world to her and being the oldest child she was very protective of her siblings. Her spirit was full of love, generosity and a caring nature that everything will be alright. She was truly one of a kind.
She leaves behind her loving husband Mark Owens and cherished daughter Elizabeth “Beth” Delsol Conley and beloved siblings Mary Connolly, Cathy Bolcerek and Jack Heidt. To her granddaughters Julie (Mike) Davidson and Katie (Brady) Delsol she was their treasured “Gammie”. A Gammie that would swim the ice cold waters of Lake Tahoe, sail on a boat in the Bahamas that sank or ring the tower bells at Las Hadas in Manzanillo Mexico. She would try it all.
To her great-grandchildren Nick, Drew, Gavin, Julia, Andrew and Alyssa she was “Gigi” and was adored by them. To her nieces and nephews Selina Burke, Mark Connolly, Cary Beyers, Matt Connolly, Chad Connolly Amy Katsanos, Molly Milley, Emily Callahan, Heidi Rapp, John Heidt, & Mike Heidt, she was Auntie Barbara full of smiles and fun. She was step-mother to Chris Owens, Pam Owens, Megan Owens, Karen Thomas. From her cousins the Pratts & Passalacqus to all her many friends she will be terribly missed but she has left us with beautiful memories that we shall cherish forever.
A Celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on August 14th @ 12pm at the Orinda Country Club. Please RSVP to juliedelsol@gmail.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity or to the Carmelite Monastery of Carmel, 27601 Highway 1 Carmel, CA 93923.