Barbara Virginia (Gruenwald) Blakeney, March 12, 1941~Aug. 26, 2010 Resident of Walnut Creek Barbara was born in Oakland and passed away in Rossmoor, Walnut Creek, following a difficult but courageous nine-year battle with cancer. She attended Oakland High School and graduated as a valedictorian of the January, 1959 class. She received a Bachelor's Degree from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor's Degree from UC San Francisco as a Registered Physical Therapist. She loved her work, and for five years she had her own office on "Pill Hill" in Oakland. She enjoyed gardening, beading, quilting, crocheting, ceramics, and chasing the sun with her loving husband, Phil, in their motor home. Everyone agrees that if your had recently met Barbara, you would not have guessed that she was fighting for her life, because her sweet and warm personality always shined through. She will be missed and warmly remembered by all. She is survived by her loving husband, Philip N. Blakeney; her loving sons Philip and Charles; her brother-in-law Keith Blakeney; three nieces and a nephew; seven grand-nieces and grand-nephews; two very close cousins in the US, David and Ralph Johnson and their families; many loving cousins in Germany and Sweden; and many, many dear friends. She is predeceased by her parents, Karl and Margaret Gruenwald and her sister Irene [OHS 1956]. A Celebration of her Life will be held on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at the Stanley Dollar Clubhouse in Rossmoor. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Fund and the Wellness Community, Walnut Creek.