Obituary of Barbara J. Holcomb

Barbara J. Holcomb, age 82, of 112 W. Fairmount Avenue, Lakewood, formerly of 141 W. Summit Avenue, Lakewood, died at home at 6am on Tuesday, January 20, 2015. She was the widow of her husband of 60 years, Richard D. Holcomb, whom she married October 13, 1951 in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Falconer and died April 30, 2012. A lifelong area resident, she was born on April 2, 1932, in Jamestown, the daughter of Clyde F. and Myrtle Anderson Glidden. Barbara served her God at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Falconer, where she was baptized and confirmed. She later served on various positions at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Lakewood. Being a charter member of Gloria Dei since its inception in 1953, she served as organist for 17 years; also as usher with her husband and on anniversary celebration committees. Her hard working hands enjoyed knitting and canning and she was famous for her cookies that she enjoyed making as much as giving away to those special in her life. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to all of her family and extended family. She cherished Beagles, Basset Hounds and Bagles, and most recently her girls "Myrtle" and "BarbaraJane." She was a 1949 graduate of Falconer High School, where she enjoyed performing with the Bill Tedesco Jazz Band, played accordion in the Victor Hager's Accordion Band, as well as played her Hammond organ at many social events in the Jamestown area, including the Crystal Ball Room in the Hotel Jamestown. After graduation, Barbara was noted for being one of the first women to swim Chautauqua Lake in 1953. She was employed for many years by the former Alden's and Gandy's Restaurants in Jamestown as a waitress. She later drove school bus for Southwestern Central School on the same Celoron/West Ellicott route for 22 years. She is survived by one daughter: Judy B. (Mike) Meredith of Sherman; two sons: Mark R. (Marilyn) Holcomb of Edgewater, Florida, and Randall G. Holcomb of Lakewood, with whom she and her husband made their home since 2000; three grandchildren: Joseph D. Meredith (Heather Savoy) of Chokosna, Alaska, Anna M. Meredith (Jake Beaudoin) of Homer, Alaska, and Jordan R. (Janelle) Meredith of Sherman. She is also survived by great-grandsons Georges Henri Michael Meredith and Clarence Dundas Emile Meredith of Sherman. Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Scott A. Holcomb in June 1956. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 24th at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 35 W. Fairmount Avenue, Lakewood. The Rev. Timothy Hoyer will officiate. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received on Friday, January 23rd from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Lind Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 35 W. Fairmount Avenue, Lakewood, New York, 14750.