April 11, 1936 – June 13, 2025
Barbara Avila passed away with family at her bedside on June 13, 2025 in Napa, California. She was born April 11, 1936 in Oakland, California to Fred Herod and Cliffie Gunter. She moved to Petaluma with her mother, father, and two sisters, where she graduated high school. Soon afterward, she married James Rufus Brattin, and together had three children – Sue Brattin, Randy Brattin, and Sandy Brattin. The marriage ended and she moved to Sonoma. Soon she met her life mate and married Bill Avila, who had two children of his own – Bob Avila and Dave Avila. Bill Avila was a cattle rancher in Glen Ellen. Barbara worked for many years at the Sonoma State Hospital as a Psychiatric Technician, and later in life became a Registered Nurse. As the children grew up and out of the house, Barbara and Bill moved to a ranch they built in Covelo, California. As they aged and health became a problem for Bill, they moved to Reno, Nevada, where they both enjoyed life there and had many friends.
Bill Avila passed away while there, but Barbara continued to live there until she decided to move back to Sonoma
County, moving in with her son, Randy Brattin and Phoebe LeMay Brattin in Cloverdale in June 2018. Barbara made many friends easily with many wonderful people. She loved the Senior Center, card games, Yahtzee, dinner dates with close friends and looked forward every week to Friday Night Live with some of her most dear and favorite friends. Barbara was loved by all who knew her and will be deeply missed by all.
