Barbara Ann Ullom Varner

Daughter of William & Delilah Ullom, sister of Martha Jean McClure, beloved wife of Donald R. Varner Sr, and mother to Donald Jr., Martha, Kathryn, Scott and Jane; Barbara Varner was united with her parents and Savior on Saturday February 4, 2012. Barbara successfully managed a long health challenge with respiratory disease and was determined to live her life without allowing pain or struggle to interfere with her mission.

Barbara was born in Waynesburg PA, graduated from both Waynesburg High School and Waynesburg College and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. She started her career in Pittsburgh PA., married her college sweetheart Don and in 1952, moved to North Carolina to start a career and begin raising a family. They would have celebrated their 60th Wedding anniversary this April 12, 2012.

With a successful career in the North Carolina Department of Social Services & Child Welfare Services, Barbara and her husband Don, working with the NC Forestry Service, was blessed and fortunate to live in Sylva, New Bern, Raleigh and Cary, NC. They developed lasting friendships in each community as their careers grew in scope and responsibilities.

In harmony with their career and life paths the Lord blessed Barbara and Don with five children, enabling Barbara to utilize her God given skills as a loving, caring, responsible mother, and wife. She placed God and her family first, above all and was especially adept in developing and challenging her children to focus on their strengths and talents in service to others. After her retirement from the NC Dept. of Social Services, she worked with pre-school children and focused on enriching and developing their lives.

“Miss Barbara, B-Anne, Barbie, and Grandma Barbara” as she was fondly called, demonstrated a passion for life, with a subtle elegance and determination in her approach, manners and interactions. She had great insight for what was important and balanced both setbacks and success with a healing humor of herself when around others. She was proud of “her sons” and equally so of “her girls” sharing with each the importance of their independence and personal growth, while gently and constantly serving as mentor with her husband for the goal of total family commitment and unselfish love.

Barbara loved celebrations of life, especially birthdays, Christmas, Independence Day and was instrumental in ensuring traditions continued with beloved family, friends and neighbors. Her Christmas celebrations and famous 4th of July backyard neighborhood block parties became events that positively impacted the lives of many with everlasting and precious memories.

Barbara was a member of Cary Presbyterian Church and also attended various services and events at Forest Hills Baptist Church with her children and grandchildren. She would not allow her health issues to deter her from worshiping in person and enjoyed the television ministries of Hayes Barton Baptist and First Presbyterian Churches. On the college front, she was an avid and proud N.C. State Wolfpack fan as all of her children and many grandchildren have graduated or will graduate from the university and have participated in various sports and academic programs with success.

She is survived by her husband, Donald Sr. of Cary, sister, Martha Jean, of Martinsburg WV., her five children: son Donald Jr. & wife Nancy, of Hendersonville, NC; daughter Martha McCullen & husband Hugh of Clayton, NC; daughter Kathryn Gentry & husband Rick of Raleigh, NC; son Scott Varner & wife Laurie of Raleigh, NC; daughter Jane Branam & husband Chris of Cary, NC. Her fifteen grandchildren are: Natalie Ryan & husband Brad, Adam Varner & wife Lindsey, Jackie Varner; Seth McCullen & wife Ashley, Chad McCullen & wife Kindelle, Meredith McCullen, Christian McCullen; Taylor Gentry, Zach Gentry, Caroline Gentry; Kimberly Varner, Allison Varner; William Branam, Christina Branam, and Caleb Branam. She also leaves three great-grandchildren: Gabriella Ryan, Nathan Ryan, and Adrianna Ryan.

A special recognition from the family goes out to Barbara’s caring, skilled and loving doctors, Dr. Corey N. Musselman, Dr. Paramjeet Singh, Dr. Sharad Vora, Dr. Sankar Adusumilli, and to the great, dedicated nurses of the 2nd floor ICU at Wake Medical Hospital, Cary, NC.

The family will receive visitors at Browne-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary on Wednesday, February 8th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral Services will be held at Forest Hills Baptist Church in Raleigh on February 9th at 2:00pm, with graveside burial service following at Raleigh Memorial Park. The family warmly welcomes those who can attend and sincerely appreciates the thoughts and prayers that have gone out on Barbara’s behalf. May God bless you all.

Contributions in memory of Barbara Varner can be made to the American Lung Association of North Carolina, 514 Daniels St, #109, Raleigh, North Carolina 27605 or online at: http://www.lungusa.org/donate/