Barbara K. Oxholm

YARMOUTHPORT — Barbara K. (Cole), 74, succumbed to bone cancer Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, at the Windsor Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in South Yarmouth. She was the wife of Theodor "Ted" Oxholm Jr. They had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Born in Utica, N.Y., Mrs. Oxholm was the second child of Thomas and Dorothy (Knowles) Cole. At the age of 12, she moved with her family to West Hartford, Conn., where she graduated from William Hall High School. Mrs. Oxholm then went on to Colby Junior College in New London, N.H. She graduated in 1953 and went to work for Travelers Bank & Trust Co.

Mrs. Oxholm met her husband, Ted, through a relative who had known him as a soldier in Munich, Germany. Love blossomed quickly for them and they were married in West Hartford in 1957. They raised their family while living primarily in Wellesley, Mass. They moved to Yarmouthport in 1997.

Mrs. Oxholm worked for the Norumbega Council of the Boy Scouts of America and became an honorary member of the Order of the Arrow. She also worked as office secretary for Wilcox Realty in Wellesley and at the Center for Executive Education at Babson College.

After moving to Yarmouthport, Mrs. Oxholm demonstrated her leadership and administrative acumen at the King's Way Condominiums and was elected to the provisional and initial boards of trustees. She volunteered to be head of the social committee, initiating a number of successful ventures, such as Picnic-on-the-Green. She managed the publication of the "Crier," a monthly publication for 600 King's Way condos, and was named editor in 2004. Her most recent achievements included scheduling out-of-town excursions and on- - premises tours. She also served as president of the King's Way Garden Club, and social chairwoman for the Ladies Nine Holers at the Club at Yarmouthport.

Mrs. Oxholm was a volunteer at the Cape Cod Cancer Consignment Exchange Inc. and served as treasurer there for two years. Knitting was a favorite pastime, and she enjoyed knitting things for family and friends. Mrs. Oxholm also enjoyed shopping and looking for appropriate gifts for everyone in the family for birthdays, Christmas and other important events.

Mrs. Oxholm will be remembered by her family as a loving "Grammy" who relished spending time with her children and grandchildren, often going out of her way to visit them at birthday parties, wrestling matches, swimming meets, dance recitals and other notable events.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Oxholm is survived by three children, Wendy O. Kirchner and her husband, James, of Renton, Wash., Theodor Oxholm III and his wife, Barbara Jean, of Holliston, Mass., and Thomas C. Oxholm and his wife, Victoria, of Rutland Town, Vt.; a brother, Richard Cole of Burlington, Conn.; a sister, Cynthia Lawrence of Baltimore, Md.; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Lauren, Theodor IV, Christopher, William, Hannah and Chloe; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Thomas Cole.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 21, 2008, in St. David's Episcopal Church, 205 Old Main St., South Yarmouth. Interment will be private.

Following the service, friends and family are cordially invited to a reception at the Meeting House at King's Way, Route 6A, Yarmouthport.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601, or to the Windsor Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 265 North Main St., South Yarmouth, MA 02664.

www.hallettfuneralhome.com