Barbara Merta

Barbara Merta was born in Altadena, CA in 1938 to Alfred and Anny. Alfred, who built the Arden Manor development, moved the family to Sacramento when she was a child. Barbara graduated from El Camino High School in 1955, shortly after it was built. She met her husband, Frank Merta, while working in Tony Schrillo’s music store, and they were married in 1959. They had a daughter, Jan, in 1962. In 1971 the family moved to their forever home in Carmichael. Also in 1971, Barbara went to work for Noack and Dean (later Interwest) as their 5th employee and stayed for the rest of her career, eventually managing 65 people and earning her CPCU designation. Frank and Barbara would be married for 56 years. They traveled all over the world on customized excursions that Barbara loved to plan. After Frank’s passing, she became active in Red Hat Society and Widowed Persons Association. Barbara is survived by daughter Jan, her husband Carl, and granddaughters Geneva and Lauren; brothers Roy and Rex, Roy’s wife Jeanine, and many nieces and nephews.