Barbara Jan Yahn (BeGe)

Barbara Jan Yahn (BeGe), 81, of Newport Beach passed away on July 7, 2012
BeGe was born on New Years day in 1931 in Beverly Hills to Ruby and Francis Goldthwaite and had one older brother, Richard. She attended Anoakia School in Arcadia, International Shool in Geneva, Finch College in New York City and UCLA. In her teenage years, BeGe spent time with friends and family with frequent travels to Acapulco, Lake Arrowhead and Palm Desert. In her twenties, she owned a gift shop in LA, she became a talented interior designer and later worked in retail, following her affection of fine china and crystal. In 1960 she was wed to Donald Edward Yahn of Ohio and they had 2 children, Holly and Donald.
In 1969, the family moved to Corona del Mar where her children were raised. BeGe was an active mother, giving of her time and talents to Girl Scouts, Brownies, Cub Scouts, PTA, Harbor View Hills Garden Club, Assistance League of Orange County, National Charity League and the Ticktocker’s Thriftshop. She was active with the Mothers of Delta Tau Delta at USC, she was a founding member of the Newport Harbor Stockettes, and she loved to play bridge and especially Mexican Train with her friends at Bayview Landing. She was a water skier, snow skier and a frequent tennis player, as much as three times a week, where she forged great lifelong relationships. BeGe had a love of travel. She was known to travel to Europe by Concorde, sail the seas on the QE II, or travel on board the Orient Express. She loved to go “Antiquing” throughout New England, or drive by car across country.
She has touched the lives and was loved by so many. She will be remembered as a woman of courage, class and grace.
BeGe is survived by her daughter, Holly Gould (husband Michael) of Santa Barbara, and son, Donald (wife Anne) of Newport Beach and her grandchildren: Baret, Baron and Briggs Yahn, and William, Abby, Stevie and Alex Michaelsen, and Lindsey and Alex Gould, and nieces and Nephews in Wyoming.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the UCLA Neurology Research (127A) VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90073