Barbara Valencia

Barbara Jane Bowyer Valencia, 75, of Oswego, passed away at her home on August 8, 2025. Born on April 5, 1950, in Peru, Indiana, to Raymond Mayne Bowyer and Mary Gertrude Ost, Barbara grew up on the family farm on Pipe Creek Falls, where they worked at the family restaurant. 

Barbara was a woman of remarkable dedication and diverse talents. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Teaching from Indiana University Kokomo, she served her country honorably in the United States Army Reserves from 1975 to 1981, achieving the rank of Specialist 5 (equivalent to the rank of Sargent). Her professional life was a testament to her work ethic: she spent 10 years with the Burlington Northern Railroad, over 20 years as a rural postal carrier for the United States Postal Service, and was a distinguished Realtor for over 40 years, earning the title of Realtor Emeritus in 2020 from the Realtor Association of Fox Valley. Beyond her professional life, Barbara was a passionate member of the Harley Owners Group for 40 years, traveling extensively across the continental U.S., Mexico and Canada. She was also an avid gardener or so she thought as she would tell Ruben what to plant, a talented baker whose famous vanilla and chocolate marble cakes were in high demand for celebrations, and a lover of the arts, always in the front of the line for her grandchildren's performances.

Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Ruben Valencia. She leaves behind a cherished family, including her children Shane (Lisa), Noel, DeLaney (Rafael), and Kerstin. She was a proud grandmother to Miguel, Marcelo (Alyssa), Kaitlynn, Logan, Mykaela, Raul, Josue, Isaiah, Clara, Benjamin, and great-grandmother to Dylan and Damon. Along with her beloved cat Xerox. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond Mayne Bowyer and Mary Ost, and her brothers, Paul Witte and Raymond Charles Bowyer.

Service Information

A visitation will be held at Bauman Family Funeral Home, 5600 US Route 34, Oswego, on Friday, August 15, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A funeral service will follow on Saturday, August 16, at 10:00 AM at the funeral home, with burial to take place at Sheridan Cemetery, E Si Johnson Avenue (County Road 32) Sheridan, Illinois 60551. A repast will be held at the Sheridan American Legion immediately following the burial. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society Lung Cancer Foundation  or hhttps://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/.

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