Barbara L. Power

Barbara L. Power, 67, of Meadville, passed away Wednesday, January 27th. She spent her final days in hospice care, comfortable and surrounded with the love of her friends and family.

Barb was born in Mount Pleasant, PA on July 27, 1948, the daughter of the late Robert and Barbara (Osterwise) Pershing.

A graduate of Greensburg-Salem High School, she earned her baccalaureate degree in mathematics from Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA. She was selected by Kappa Delta Pi, education honorary and by Kappa Mu Epsilon, mathematics honorary. She graduated cum laude in 1970 and began her career teaching mathematics at Conneaut Lake High School. Subsequently, she earned a Master of Arts in Education degree from Allegheny College and a Master of Arts degree in Pure Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh. From 1991 to 2007, she was a Lecturer in Mathematics at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. A life-long educator, Barb specialized in cooperative-learning approaches and advocated for the professional development of women in the sciences and mathematics.

Barb was an avid runner who enjoyed her daily morning workouts and marathon training. A fan of rock, blues and jazz music, Barb often attended live concerts with her family and friends.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Meadville.

Barb is survived by her husband, Robert M. Power, Jr.; her daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and James Richards of Santa Clara, CA; her son and future daughter-in-law, Michael Power and Eugenia Mathias of Mount Pleasant, SC; her brother, Robert L. Pershing, Jr., of Greensburg, PA; her mother-in-law Patricia Power of Meadville, PA; and Dominik Dumancic of Union, KY, a foreign exchange student who resided with the Power family and whom Barb considered a second son. She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, a niece and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father.

Family and friends are invited to call on Monday, February 1, from 4-8 and also on Tuesday, February 2, from 11-1 at Stephen P. Mizner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 404 Chestnut St., Meadville, where Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 with Rev. Dr. Brian Jensen, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Crawford County, 464 Pine St., Meadville, PA 16335 or Mathematics Scholarship Committee, School of Science, Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, 4701 Behrend College Dr., Erie, PA 16563 or Westminster College, 319 South Market St., New Wilmington, PA 16142.

Share a memory or condolence at www.miznerfuneralhome.com