Obituary of Barbara Volas

Barbara Volas, age 84, of White Oak, passed away on February 3, 2020 surrounded by family and friends after a brief illness. She was born on March 3, 1935 in Kremasti, Rhodes, Greece and is the daughter of the late Peter J. and Katerina Cantemiry Volas. Barbara graduated from McKeesport High School in 1952. She attended Pratt Institute in New York. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Painting from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1963 and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1967. Barbara lived the artist’s life. She held adjunct professor appointments at Western College for Women, now Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio and Carnegie Mellon University. She exhibited her work at individual, group and invitational shows throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. Several of her paintings and prints are part of individual and corporate collections. Barbara earned awards and commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts and Pennsylvania Council for the Arts. Barbara will be fondly remembered by her nieces and nephews when they would visit her home, garden and studios. She is survived by her brother, Eugene (Katherine) Volas formerly of White Oak now of North Canton, Ohio; sister-in-law, Mary Volas of St. Louis, Missouri; also beloved nieces and nephews and their families. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, John Volas. The family would like to thank her neighbors and friends for looking in on her over the years. Family and friends will be received at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1128 Summit Street, White Oak, PA 15131, on Saturday, February 8th from 11:00 am until the time of services at 12:00 pm with Reverend Father William Zotis. Interment will follow in Mount Vernon Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Arrangements by Strifflers of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (412-678-6177). To share a memory or condolence, visit strifflerfuneralhomes.com.