- Date Of Birth: September 5, 1921
- Date Of Death: January 17, 2013
- State: Texas
Barbara Jane Kuzel passed away on January 17, 2013 at the age of 91. Born on September 5, 1921 in Dallas, Texas, she attended Ursuline Academy and college in San Diego, CA. She was a veteran of World War II, joining the Army Air Corps with her mother, Nova O’Brien. Serving initially in England in the 9th Air Force as a radar plotter, she received reports of inbound enemy aircraft, plotting their position. She moved into France and then into Germany in April, 1945, and was stationed in Bad Kissingen until returning to the U.S. Barbara was a very talented artist and painted the nose art on some of the 9th AF B-26 Bombers.
After she was discharged, she attended art school in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, where she met her husband of 51 years, Frank Kuzel, who had served with the 101st Airborne Division and had been interned in Stalag 2A. They then moved to Washington, D.C. And later to Dallas in the early 1950’s.
Barbara was a great mom, who also assisted her mother, Nova, a well known fashion designer, with her business. Barbara and Frank (deceased, 2000) have two sons, David Anthony Kuzel (Jesuit class of ’68) and Commander Kevin Kuzel, USN, ret. (Jesuit, 1970). I am proud to say that ALL members of the Kuzel family served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
In her last years, Barbara was cared for by her son, David, who sacrificed his life for several years to care for her needs, allowing her to remain at home till shortly before her passing.
Monday, January 21st, 2013, 2:00pm
