Norma Romaine Johnson Barnes Sweeney passed away on August 26 in Thousand Oaks. She was 83 years young, and her life was cut short from a lengthy battle with dementia.
Norma was born in Wood County, Ohio, on July 23, 1938, and raised in Bellefontaine, Ohio, the second of six children. She was the 1955 Bellefontaine High School homecoming queen.
After graduation, Norma moved to Columbus and started a long career in the travel industry. She was one of the first flight attendants with TWA. After flying she worked as a travel agent with various agencies in Southern California.
She met her first husband, Lew Barnes, in Santa Monica. The couple moved to Pacific Palisades and had two daughters, Karen Marie Barnes and Sandy Lindsay (Barnes) Holloway.
Norma was active in the Marquez PTA, where her daughters attended grade school, and served as the president. The girls went to Paul Revere and Palisades High School and the family was very active in the Palisades Presbyterian Church.
Norma’s passions were traveling the world and spending time with her family. She also enjoyed reading, gardening, dancing and walking on the beach.
In 2002, Norma, who had retired, returned to Ohio to lovingly care for her mother.
During that time, she reconnected with her high school sweetheart Bud Sweeney, who had come back to visit family and friends after his wife had died. Norma’s mother died in 2007, and she married Bud and moved back to California with him. They spent the last 13 years together in Thousand Oaks.
Norma is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and four of her five siblings. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Words cannot express how much Norma will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know her. She was a kindhearted, smart, successful woman with a quick wit and a constant smile. Rest In Peace, Norma, for you had a life well lived.
There are no services scheduled at this time. If you would like to honor Norma’s life, please consider a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).