In Memoriam

Barbara Jean Marikovics

ONEONTA—Beloved wife, mother and grandmother Barbara Marikovics died of natural causes on June 17, 2023. She failed to attain her goal of living to 100 by a mere eight months but was never unhappy with the life she had. Born on January 21, 1924 in Detroit, Michigan to her parents, Volney Lincoln Groves of Winston Salem, North Carolina and Maren Mogensen of Jutland, Denmark, she married Charles Marikovics of New York City during World War II, whom she met while serving as a hostess at a USO dance. She bore two sons, Donald Charles and William Jay Marikovics.

She is survived by her son, Donald, daughter-in-law Roni, and grandchildren Christoph Bela, Sonja Fely, Stefan Donald and Corey Dawn. She was predeceased by her husband of 37 years, Charles, her brother, Volney Jr., and her son, William Jay.

During the war, Barbara worked as a riveter assembling the tail sections of PBY aircraft. Later she would become a bookkeeper and office manager at typography and printing companies in Manhattan.

During her youth she experienced the bad times of the Great Depression as well as the good times of VJ Day, the loss of a child, and the joy of a long, happy marriage, but throughout it all she was an unwavering beacon of compassion, dignity, grace, and principle. Her dedication to a life of self-reliance and love will always be an enduring example for family and friends who survived her.

Barbara was a very self-sufficient and independent person who valued honesty and family, and while she never imposed her will upon others, she was never hesitant to tell you her opinion. She loved to dance and when still in her 70s she added tap and line dancing to her repertoire of swing and jitterbug. Barbara participated in the Pennsylvania Senior Olympics every year until her late 80s, when she moved to Oneonta, and never failed to win medals in a wide variety of events including swimming, horseshoes, pool, and shuffleboard, among others.

She spent the final months of her life at Fox Nursing Home Unit One under the excellent care and direction of Chief Nurse Margaret Wikoff and her staff.

Barbara was an active parishioner at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Oneonta. She will be interred with her husband in July in a private ceremony at the National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.

Arrangements are with the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grummonsfuneralhome.com for the Marikovics family.