Barbara Boggs Holcomb Obituary

Barbara Ann Boggs Holcomb, 96 of Richwood, died Monday April 28, 2025 at her home surrounded by her loving family.
She was born October 12, 1928 in Sutton, West Virginia, the daughter of Ralph Colbert and Margaret (Lake) Boggs.
She was a graduate of the Sutton High School and received her B.S. in Home Economics from West Virginia University and an M.S. in Family and Child Development from The Ohio State University. During her undergraduate and graduate years, she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was active in many campus service organizations.
After graduation, she taught at Buckhannon-Upshur High School in Buckhannon, West Virginia.
On December 23, 1950, she married Dr. Charles William Holcomb. In 1951 they moved to Richwood, Ohio where Dr. Holcomb established a medical practice. She taught in the North Union School District in the 1970's.
Barbara was devoted to her family. She felt a deep commitment to the community and was an active volunteer in her church, in the school district and in community organizations that provided support, guidance and care.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Richwood and a longtime member of the Carpe Diem Club. She had been a member of the Richwood Civic Center since its early years and a member and supporter of the North Union-Richwood Public Library through the "Friends of the Library". She served many years on both county and state boards to promote and support mental health issues. Involvement in local and area programs led to her selection in 1991 for the Central Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. She was a trustee of the Union County Foundation Board and a member of the Major Gifts Committee of the Development Council of the Union County Memorial Hospital.
She served as an elected member of the North Union Local School Board of Education from 1990 to 1998 and as Board president for five years. In 1997 she was named to the All-Ohio School Board. She continued to be a supporter of the public school system and was honored in 2015 by the Central Ohio School Boards Assn. as a Friend of Public Education awardee.
She made a lasting contribution to future generations through work with scholarship programs. She was a member of the Burnside/Imbody/Fish Scholarship Fund Board of Trustees from 1994 until her retirement from the board in 2013. She was instrumental in the organization for the McElheny Family Foundation and served as president of the Board of Trustees from 1996 until 2013. In 2006, the North Union Local Board of Education designated the library at the High School as the Barbara Holcomb Student Media Center.
Mrs. Holcomb was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Dr. Charles William Holcomb on March 31, 2007, a son, Timothy Brandt Holcomb and two brothers, Thornton Lake Boggs and Ralph Colbert Boggs Jr.
She is survived by her children, Dr. James W. (Catalina Bazacliu) Holcomb of Newberry, Florida, Ann Holcomb of New York City, Sally (Joseph) Wiley of Richwood and Mary (Michael) Price of Richwood.
Her grandchildren, Elizabeth Holcomb, Amy (Seth) Pearce, James Mihai Holcomb, Sarah (Adam Boerger) Wiley, Mark (Amanda) Wiley, Lauren (Matt Rupp) Wiley, Jennifer (Mike) Sheetz, Cory Holcomb, William (Lexie) Price and Taylor (Jake) Lawrence.
Ten great grandchildren, Joseph, Lily and Sutton Wiley, Barrett, Vera and Colt Boerger, Wyatt and Beau Rupp and Alva and Marilyn Lawrence.
She enjoyed maintaining contact with several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Remembrance Service will be held Wednesday May 7, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the Richwood First Methodist Church. Pastor Joseph Rhea will officiate. Friends may call on Tuesday May 6, 2025 from 4-7 pm at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home in Richwood. Burial will be in Sutton, West Virginia at a later date.
Remembrance gifts may made to the Burnside/Imbody/Fish Scholarships for North Union graduates or to the McElheny Book Awards for North Union students c/o the Union County Foundation, 500 West 4th St., Marysville, Ohio 43040 or to the Richwood-North Union Public Library at 4 East Ottawa St. Richwood, Ohio 43344