Barbara Major, a longtime Point Dume resident of 54 years, passed away on July 6 at the age of 87. Barbara was born in East Los Angeles in 1926, the daughter of Wenzel and Mary Neverka, Hungarian immigrants from Canada. Barbara met her future husband, Paul L. Major, at Fremont High School and they were married in 1947. In 1960, Paul was transferred to Malibu Station #71 and moved the family to Point Dume, where Barbara and Paul were considered pioneers of Point Dume. It was there they designed and built their mid-century modern home, which is still a classic to today.
Back in the ’60s, Barbara was active with the 4-H club and local Girl Scout troop. She was an oil painting artist, a quilt maker and a seamstress. The Majors were responsible for developing their own sustainable farm and gardens Barbara kept throughout her life. Later, she worked at the local satellite campus of Santa Monica College offices located at Point Dume Village and was instrumental in arranging many local classes and clubs, including “The Dinner Club,” which was a popular weekly gathering on the beach at Zumirez.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years. She was survived by daughter Deanne Palmer and son-in-law Rick Palmer of Queen Creek, Ariz.; grandson Justin Palmer and wife Stacy and two children, Addison and Makenzie; son Paul Major Jr. and daughter-in-law Valerie Major of Point Dume; and grandson Kurtis Major of Bolinas, Calif., and Scott Major of Point Dume.