Sumter, SC ……Barbara Ann Smith Knezevich, age 78, beloved wife of 60 years to the late Milorad Robert Knezevich, died on Friday, March 13, 2020 at residence.
Born in McKeesport, PA, Barbara was the daughter of the late George Smith and Elizabeth Cook Smith. She was a military wife and mother for 26 years. She raised four daughters and encouraged them to go to college, establish careers, and be strong and independent women. She loved to decorate and landscape homes. She also loved to shop until you drop. She had a real sense of style and always dressed and accessorized with the appropriate amount of bling. She was the planner of trips and fun activities and was generous with her time and money. She was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguin fan and she loved animals. She was the heart and soul of her family.
Surviving are her four daughters, Sherry Portillo of Sumter, Deborah Knezevich of Sumter, Pamela Osborne of Panama City, FL and Kristine Knezevich of Greenville, NC; one brother, George Smith and his spouse, Roger of Spring Hill, FL; nine grandchildren, Christopher Knezevich, Nicholas Johnson, Ashley Johnson, Kyle Osborne, Rebekah Brockington, Elizabeth Hiller, Matthew Burns, Skyler Cranfield and Victor Knezevich; and seventeen great grandchildren. In addition, Barbara loved the spouses of her grandchildren as though they were her own: Camille Knezevich, Ronald Brockington, Trevor Hiller, and Dustin Cranfield.
In addition to her parents and husband, Barbara was preceded in death by her brother William Smith, two sons-in-law, Arthur Osborne and Joe Portillo; and a great-granddaughter, Devyn Jewell.
A private family service will be held.
Memorials may be made to the Sumter SPCA, 1140 S. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150.
You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book online.
The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter for the arrangements.
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