Barbara (Saur) Ryan, 91, of Silver Spring, Maryland, passed away January 8, 2023, at the home of her daughter surrounded by loved ones. Barbara was born on January 23, 1931, in Washington, D.C., to George Francis Saur and Rosina Margaret Saur (nee Danhakl).

She was the fourth of five children. When Barbara was 3 years old, her dad contracted strep throat shortly before the first antibiotics became available and passed away. Her mom was now a widow with five young children.

Barbara attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Washington DC. One of the highlights for Barbara and her siblings was spending their summers at North Beach, Maryland, on the west side of the Chesapeake Bay. This yearly trip to the beach continued throughout much of her early life.
After Barbara graduated from high school, she began her career working for the Treasury Department. She met her husband, Jack Ryan, at Uncle Billy's Beer Joint at North Beach. Barbara and Jack were married on April 24, 1954.

Barbara continued to work until their first child, Janice, was born in October of 1956. Janice was followed by Carol, Christopher, and Stephanie. Barbara was a stay-at-home mom until she and Jack separated in 1969.

Barbara honed her skills on the typewriter and began a career at the National Library of Medicine, where she worked until her retirement in 2000. At that time, Barbara sold her home in Foxhall and moved to Leisure World in Maryland, where she lived until her death.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents and by her sister Helen Saur.

Barbara leaves behind her four children—Janice (Ben) Young, Carol (Dick) Hilton, Chris Ryan, and Stephanie (Alan) Link; nine grandchildren—Drew (Kelly) Hilton, Leah (CT) Turner, Sarah (Robert) Martin, Jennifer (Doug) Pinckney, Anna Catherine Young, Ashlee (Marcus) Griffith, Luke (Emily) Link, Grace (Andrew) Egger, and David Link; thirteen great grandchildren (with 2 on the way!); three of her siblings—Rose Marie Marzetta, George (Joan) Saur, and Joe Saur; and many extended family members.

Barbara's funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Silver Spring, Maryland on Monday, January 23, 2023, at 11 a.m., with visitation an hour before the service. It's bittersweet, as it would have been Barbara's 92nd birthday.

Memorial contributions in Barbara's honor may be directed to Promedica/Heartland hospice, Eastern Sky Dr., Ste 2, Traverse City, Michigan 49684.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Barbara's family at her tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .

The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.