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Carolyn L. Barkley
1947 - 2013
Carolyn L. Barkley
1947 - 2013
Obituary
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Carolyn Barkley Obituary
Born December 16, 1947 in Springfield, MA, she was the daughter of the late Olivio and Lois (Smith) Lopes. She was the granddaughter of Clifford F. Smith, long time City Clerk of Springfield, and Mildred Carolyn Abbe.
In addition to her grandparents and parents, she was preceded in death by her husband William L. Barkley in 2010.
Carolyn earned her B.A. from Wellesley College and her Masters in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She was employed by the Virginia Beach Department of Public Libraries for over thirty years. After her retirement, Carolyn continued to work as a freelance editor and researcher. She spent much of her time traveling.
Carolyn has been the genealogist for Clan Barclay International, served as President of the St. Andrew's Society of Tidewater, the Scottish Society of Tidewater, the Virginia Beach Genealogical Society, the Virginia Library Association and many more too numerous to list. Most recently, Carolyn was President of the Wintergreen Nature Foundation.
Survivors include her son, Kelley and wife Kimberly (Murray) Powell of Roanoke; granddaughters, Megan Murray, Samantha Kate Powell and Mackenzie Grace Powell all of Roanoke.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes, 618 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA with Pastor Matthew Coiner officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to donate may make donations to the Wintergreen Nature Foundation, R.R. 1, Box 770, Roseland, VA 22967.
Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories with the family online by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Kathleen Davis
June 29, 2013
What a great spirit. It was Virginia Beach's loss when she retired to Roseland. Carolyn left her marks - in genealogy, in our libraries and societies, and personally with her expansive knowledge, directness and wit. What a friend. I so appreciate knowing and working with her. We are so sorry to have only recently learned of your loss. May your happier memories of Carolyn help ease your painful loss.
Jane Helmchen
June 1, 2013
Dear Kelley, As one of your grandfather's first students at Longm.HS, I stayed in touch with him, your grandmother, and your mother over the years. I am with you in spirit with all the good memories. Best wishes, Jane Helmchen
May 24, 2013
I did not know Carolyn personally but I do feel that I have lost a friend. I have read her writings on genealogy for a long time. My deepest sympathy to the family.
Cleda Taubin, Harrisonburg, Va.
Betsy Chambers
May 22, 2013
Kelley and family,
My knowledge of your mother is merely through her writings for genealogical.com. I enjoyed her writings and have saved them for my personal family research. I feel as though I knew her through her articles. She will be missed by many who knew her in this way. You have a wonderful heritage in Carolyn. With sincere sympathy, Betsy Chambers
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Suzanne McCarthy Van Ness ELHS '65
May 21, 2013
To Carolyn's family,
I am a high school classmate of Carolyn's from East Longmeadow. I was so sorry to learn first on Saturday of your Grandma, Mrs Lopes death. She was our school librarian and I have very fond memories of her from our high school days. But I was totally stunned to learn that the very next day Carolyn died. What a shock. She was such a bright star in our class and as nice as she was smart. It would be no surprise to her friends and colleagues now that she was voted by our class as "Most likely to Succeed". She obviously fulfilled that prediction. My deepest sympathy to your family on this incredible, untimely double loss.
Toni Lohman
May 19, 2013
I'm so sorry about Carolyn. We worked together at the library for over 20 years and I could always count on her for good advice whenever I needed it. My thoughts are with you.
Susan Head
May 19, 2013
Dear Kelley and Family,
I worked with Carolyn at VBPL for many years. She was one of the smartest people I have known. I also remember her beautiful knitting and the fun parties at her and Bo's home. I am so sorry for your loss.
Ann Hughes
May 17, 2013
Dear Kelley and family, Kate & I are so, so sorry to hear this. Carolyn has been preparing family history manuscripts for our clients for many years. (I was so happy when she retired because she had more time to do this!) With her expert skills, she could satisfy even the pickiest people -- and she'd never let people beat her down. I'll miss her spunkiness, her accountability and her great big heart.
Jean Cooper
May 17, 2013
I was shocked and saddened when I learned of Carolyn's passing. I knew her both as a librarian and a genealogist -- she was my go-to person for research questions in genealogy. I will miss her. My condolences to the family.
John Braund
May 17, 2013
To the Barkley Family:
I can truthfully say that I looked forward with great anticipation every week to Carolyn Barkley's blog. As a genealogist, one reads many things and, it is safe to say, most of what one reads is poorly written. Carolyn Barkley's work is truly exceptional when considered in this light and it will remain for many years to come a source of the best information on any subject about which she wrote. Her legacy as a genealogist must include this marvelous body of work and her loss to us is deeply poignant. May God bless you all ... real good!
John Braund
Sandra McDonald
May 17, 2013
Our condolences. Carolyn will be greatly missed.
Marie & Bob Melchiori
May 16, 2013
Kelley and family, Bob and I are so sorry to hear about Carolyn. She was such a super person. She will be missed.
Lindsay Ideson
May 16, 2013
My condolences to Carolyn's family on their loss. I met her when I served on the Virginia Library Association's Conference Planning committee in 1995. Carolyn demonstrated such grace in leadership that I was in awe of her skills. The library world in Virginia will miss her!
Kathy Knowles
May 16, 2013
Carolyn, I will miss you every day. We had so much fun together, tootling around Augusta and Nelson Counties in your Jeep, poking into courthouse records, old cemeteries and libraries in search of old, old records. You really knew where to go and what to do when the need for historical information arose. Godspeed, my dear friend. I will always treasure our friendship.
Joe Garonzik
May 16, 2013
Kelley and family,
I worked with Carolyn from Genealogical Publishing Company, for which she wrote the weekly blogs. She was so tickled that her granddaughters were taking an interest in their roots. She was a gem in so many ways!
Susan Keller
May 16, 2013
My deepest sympathies on the loss of your mother. I spent great times with Carolyn on the Conference Planning Committee for the Virginia Library Association. She said it was my fault that she became chair twice. We had so much fun the first time that she had to give it a go. She was truly a wonderful person to work with and to have the privilege of knowing.
Peggy Lutton
May 16, 2013
Carolyn will be greatly missed on our TGS bus trips to Washington, DC by her fellow riders. Godspeed Carolyn! It has been a great time with you here and I am glad that I got the pleasure of knowing you.
Liz Fravel
May 16, 2013
As a staff member at The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen, we got the privilege of working with Carolyn almost every day. You'd hear from her at 10pm or 10am. She was more than a member, volunteer, Board Chair to us... she was one of us, she was our unpaid staff member. Kelley and the girls, she talked about you all the time; she was so proud. We're raising a glass of our best scotch for you Carolyn; our way of saying thank you. We'll miss you! Liz
Rusty Bedard
May 16, 2013
Our thoughts and prayers are with Carolyn's family. Sincere sympathy from the Virginia Beach Retired Employees Association.
Mary Burch
May 15, 2013
To Carolyn Barkley's family,
I am so sorry to hear of losing Carolyn. She was a wonderful person and she greatly will be missed.Take care and God Bless!
Dave & Mia Farley
May 15, 2013
Goodbye Carolyn. You were missed here at Central when you left and will be forever missed. Our sincere condolences to Carolyn's family for both of their recent losses and hope that all of your memories of Carolyn will sustain you.
Stella Pool
May 15, 2013
I met Carolyn through VLA and admired her enthusiasm for libraries and genealogy. She was a delightful person and we will miss her.
Ruth Arnold
May 15, 2013
I got to know Carolyn when she was VLA President and I was on the Virginia Library Association Executive Committee. She was a tireless worker and an inspiration to VLA. I missed her after she retired and was always glad to see her after she moved to our area.
Lois Long
May 15, 2013
My deepest condolences for the loss of Carolyn.
I worked with her in the Library Department for over 20 years. She was a wonderful person.
Leigh
May 15, 2013
I was so sorry to hear about your loss and, even though I only knew her for a short time, I felt like I had known her much longer. She was a brave and vibrant woman-I learned a lot from her and will never forget her. Thank you Carolyn for showing me grace!
Dianne Davis
May 14, 2013
Dear Carolyn sealed my admission into the DAR, thus adding to my social world. I know how much she has added to our Davis family, the Pebworths,The Kings, and there must be countless others. The loss of this marvelous and caring woman is tragic and too soon. I am so sorry for All her family, and others who loved her. My deepest sympathy to you.
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