Loren Tiball's former wife Billie Tibbals passes away

Billie Tsannis Tibbals, once a reference librarian at the BJ and the wife of the copy desk's late Loren Tibbals, passed away February 22.

She was an Akron public schools teacher for 51 years.

Billie Tibbals

 

Former BJer Roger Mezger provided this information:

“Billie Tsannis Barbaris married Loren Tibbals, BJ executive sports editor, in 1959. They were divorced sometime in the 1960s and Tib then married Anne Chisnell Rhinehart. They had a daughter, Lisa, who was about 10 when Tib died suddenly in 1977.

 

"Billie was the niece of a co-owner of a candy store opposite the Beacon Journal and apparently worked at the BJ around the late 1940s-early 1950s. Her first marriage, in 1948, was to Richard Barbaris.

"Anne Tibbals later married Harold Carlson."

 

 

 

 

Former BJer Roger Mezger provides this information about Billie:

“Billie Tsannis Barbaris married Loren Tibbals, BJ executive sports editor, in 1959. They were divorced sometime in the 1960s and Tib then married Anne Chisnell Rhinehart. They had a daughter, Lisa, who was about 10 when Tib died suddenly in 1977.

Anne Tibbals later married Harold Carlson.

Billie was the niece of a co-owner of a candy store opposite the Beacon Journal and apparently worked at the BJ around the late 1940s-early 1950s. Her first marriage, in 1948, was to Richard Barbaris.

Former BJ sports editor Ken Krause, helping to keep the Mystic River clean in Medford, Massachussetts, added these details and two photos of Billie at the BJ and as a teacher:

“She was a graduate of Buchtel High School, as Billie Tsannis, and as an eighth-grader at Jennings School she was a correspondent for the Beacon Journal’s Youth Parade section, which presented a roundup of school news.

“She was the ex-wife of Loren Tibbals, the former Beacon Journal sports writer. They married in 1959 and were divorced in 1963. This was her second marriage. She married to Richard Barbaris in 1947.

“In the 1940s and ‘50s, Billie’s father, Tom Tsannis, and her uncle George operated the Beacon Candy Shop, a restaurant and store so-named because it was located across from the Beacon Journal at High and Exchange streets. The brothers previously operated Tsannis Candy Shop on South Case Ave.

“In 2001, Mark J. Price wrote a feature article on the shop with a prominent a photo of Billie Tsannis from 1943, plus three photos showing her and her father making the shop’s popular candy canes.

 

Billie’s obituary:

Billie Tsannis Tibbals

Billie Tsannis Tibbals passed away February 22, 2018.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Eftimia Tsannis of the Tsannis Candy Co.; sister, Mary Brokas and long time companion, Harold Peddicord.

Mrs. Tibbals was a former reference librarian at the Akron Beacon Journal. She taught for the Akron Public Schools a total of 51 years. After retirement she volunteered her services at Stewart’s Caring Place. She was a member of Firestone Park Prime Timers and a life time member of the Ohio Country and Western Music Assn., Akron Chapter. She was a recipient of the Jennings Scholar Award for excellence in teaching, was named as a Leader of American Elementary Education and was honored by the Outstanding Teachers of America.

She leaves her extended family, Terry and Linda Peddicord; several nieces and nephews and many friends. As requested by Mrs. Tibbals, immediate burial has taken place at Greenlawn Cemetery.

Billie’s extended family would add that anyone wishing to make a donation in Billie’s memory is welcome to donate to Stewart’s Caring Place Cancer Wellness Center.