Jean Barlow Willard

Jean Barlow Willard passed away peacefully at the Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center in Troy at 93 years of age on October 15, 2024. Born on April 11, 1931 in Clifton Springs, NY to Lloyd H. and Izalee Sanborn Barlow, Jean graduated from Troy High School in 1949 and married the love of her life, Walter J. Willard Sr. that same year on November 6th. The couple were both employed at W.T.Grants in downtown Troy before leaving the area to live in various parts of New England and NY State while Walter worked opening and managing several department stores, including Ames and Jamesway, for which Jean is credited with naming after the town of Jamestown in the early 1960s. Her primary occupation was caring for her family until they returned to their hometown of Troy in 1965, where they opened their first beef themed restaurant, Willard’s Steerhouse. Other locations followed in Cohoes, at the railroad depot and in Clifton Park, on route 9 and in the Clifton Country Mall. Upon the closing of their restaurants in 1981, Jean went on to work for her nephew Cliff Barlow at Cliff’s Country Inn on Saratoga Lake for many years. Although she had different roles in those establishments, primarily as a hostess, she was known for her ability to relate to and charm everyone she met. Jean also worked part and full time for Gardenway at the Sales Department Call Center, until her retirement in 2001. After retirement, she enjoyed activities such as her bridge club with her longtime friends, some from as far back as high school and swim aerobics at the Troy YWCA, where she formed many new loving friendships. The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at the Eddy Memorial Geriatric center who provided loving care over the last five years. Jean was predeceased by her husband of 73 years, Walter J. Willard Sr. who passed on February 16,2023, her two brothers Lloyd and Robert Barlow and her grandson Ari Josef Thomas Willard. She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her son Walter J. Willard Jr. of Pawley’s Island, SC, daughters Wendy Willard (Robert Lombardo) of Troy, Wanda Glenn (Jeff) of Mays Landing, NJ, her grandsons Jason Willard (Carrie) of Dexter, MI, Jared Willard of Watervliet, Jordan Willard of Rensselaer and Jeffrey Glenn (Alison) of Philadelphia, PA., great-grandsons Benjamin, Nicholas, Crosby and Jennings Willard, as well as the mother of her Willard grandsons Nadine Mahan and her life-long friend and sister-in-law Catherine Barlow and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 181 Troy Schenectady Rd., Watervliet, New York on Wednesday November 6, 2024 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm with a funeral service to begin at 6:00 pm.