Barbara Ann Middleton

Barbara Ann Coleman Middleton passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on November 2, 2024 at the age of 76. Barbara was born on January 8, 1948 in the Bronx, New York. She was the only child of Ellen (Scarborough) and Matthew Coleman. Barbara went to St. Nicholas of Tolentine in the Bronx before moving to Rockaway Beach, NY.

In 1964, while walking on the boardwalk with some friends, Barbara met a handsome gymnast and diver named Jim ("Jimmy") Middleton. Jim was so smitten by Barbara that he did a flip off the boardwalk and ran away. Jim and Barbara would go on to date for several years and marry on September 7, 1968. Two weeks after their honeymoon, Jim would be shipped off to Vietnam. Jim and Barbara lived in Georgia for one year so Jim could finish his time with the army.

Moving back to New York, they would welcome their first daughter, Laura (Addison) in late 1970 and their second daughter Pamela (Middleton) in the summer of 1973.

Barbara found her calling as a nurse by taking every imaginable step to reach her goals. She received her LPN degree from Caledonia, her Registered Nurse Degree from Kingsborough Community College, and her bachelor's of nursing from Adelphi University. In true Barbara fashion, she proudly maintained a 4.0 average since kindergarten.

Barbara and Jim moved to St. Petersburg, FL after Jim's retirement from the New York City Fire Department. Always the seeker of knowledge, Barbara went back to school at the University of South Florida and became a nurse practitioner focusing on family medicine and psychiatry. She worked for several years at Operation PAR. After her retirement from nursing, she and Jim enjoyed being active members of The Elks Club in St. Petersburg, Florida.

She welcomed her grandson James (Addison) in 2001, and her granddaughter Jordan in 2007. She loved her grandchildren immensely.

Barbara was intellectually gifted, had lightning fast wit, was an avid collector of knick knacks, a voracious reader and watched as many crime shows as she could absorb. Barbara also loved to spend time with her family, friends, and all the dogs she saved, found and adopted.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 56 years James Middleton, her daughters Laura (Addison) and Pamela (Middleton), son-in-law Doug Addison, grandchildren James (Addison) and Jordan (Addison) and her beloved dog MaGee. She also leaves behind a bevy of in-laws she inherited from her marriage to Jim and nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.

She is preceded in death by her mother Ellen (Scarborough) and her father Matthew Coleman.

Her family knows her body is free of pain and her soul has found peace in God's loving embrace. May her spirit be forever communing on a cloud with all her dearly departed loved ones and every dog she gave her love to.

A visitation for Barbara will be held Friday, November 22, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Meadowlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 4244 Madison Street, New Port Richey, FL 34652. A funeral home will occur Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 5340 High St, New Port Richey, FL 34652.