Feb 8, 2014

Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church member

Barbara Jo Rager, 62, of Washington, died Friday, February 7, 2014, in UPMC-Presbyterian hospital, Pittsburgh, following a courageous two-month battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

She was born March 23, 1951, in Wheeling, W.Va., a daughter of the late Charles Evans and Joan Caldwell.

Mrs. Rager was a 1969 graduate of McGuffey High School, and went on to be a customer service representative for Hills Department Store, and then worked for 18 years for Huntington Bank as a teller.

She was a member of Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church for more than 30 years, where she also served as youth coordinator.

Mrs. Rager was team captain and committee member for Relay For Life, and loved fireworks, doing crafts for her grandchildren, camping and the beach. She considered Christmas her favorite time of year. She loved life and was an adventurous person who will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

On November 17, 1995, she married Cecil W. Rager, who survives.

Also surviving are four sons, Christopher Janovich of Washington, Shawn (Maria) Janovich of Robinson, Cecil W. Rager Jr. of Virginia Beach, Va., and Brian K. Rager of Chesapeake, Va.; two daughters, Laura Jo (Mike) Schick of Raleigh, N.C., and Amanda L. (Robert) Morgan of Chesapeake; a brother, Richard (Debbie) Clutter of East Liverpool, Ohio; two sisters, Terri (Charles) Steadman of Washington and Deborah Jo (Kurt) Cox of Claysville; and seven grandchildren, Payton M. Janovich, Ashley and Eli Janovich, Ali Kat Schick, Tyler A. and Madison P. Morgan and Justis M. Rager.

Deceased is her stepmother, with whom she was very close, Wynona Irwin.

Friends will be received from noon to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 11. Interment will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township.

Memorial contributions may be directed to www.relayforlife.org/pachrhouston, then choose the JAUMC team. Condolences may be expressed at, and photos uploaded to, www.familyremembers.com. Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors Inc., Charles R. Piatt, owner/supervisor, and Lawrence K. Donovan, director