Virginia Diener Barbey

Virginia Diener Barbey, of La Jolla, California, died on December 23, 2014 at Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla.

Born in West Reading, Pennsylvania in 1933, she was one of the three children of Walter M. and Ruth (Hiltebeitel) Diener. Her father's family owned the former Diener Brothers dry goods store in Hamburg, and also founded Diener Industries, involving several textile operations including Spring City Bleach and Dye Works. Her grandfather, Adam P. Hiltebeitel, designed landmark Berks County commercial buildings such as Reading High School and Reading Hospital's tower building.

Mrs. Barbey grew up in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania and graduated from Emma Willard School, Troy, New York. She attended Wheelock College and Lesley College. She married Edwin Quier Barbey of Greenfields, Pennsylvania in 1956 and resided after their marriage in Wellesley, Massachusetts and Paradise Valley, Arizona. Mrs. Barbey was involved in the Junior League, Wellesley Service League, and various Garden Clubs. She enjoyed a sharp and curious mind her entire life. She was able to fulfill her ambition to travel widely and experience many cultures, visiting multiple countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Southern Pacific. She was an avid reader and made a regular habit of sending books and news articles to friends and family in order to encourage them to pursue their own interests. She loved animals, including the three beloved dogs that lived with her in California.

Mrs. Barbey is survived by her husband, Edwin Quier Barbey, two sons, Peter D. Barbey of Oley, PA, and Jacques D. Barbey of Phoenix, AZ, and a daughter, Ruth Virginia Barbey Spalding of Sandpoint, ID and three grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Margaret D. Maxwell of Bellevue, WA., and a brother, Walter M. Diener, Jr. of Reading, PA.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 527 Washington Street, Reading, Pennsylvania on Saturday, January 31, 2015, at 10 AM, followed by a graveside service at St. John's Cemetery, Hamburg, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Audubon Society at pa.audubon.org in memory of her special love of hummingbirds. Condolences may be recorded at kuhnfuneralhome.com.