Barbara G. Buehl

OLDTOWN MD - Barbara G. Buehl passed away June 1st, 2025, at her farm overlooking the Potomac River in the company of loved ones and her animals.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio on April 2, 1947, she was predeceased by her parents George and Esther Buehl, who eventually resided with her in Allegany County.
Barb is survived by sisters Katie Conkle and Donna Clingensmith, stepson Chris Carpenter, Stepdaughters Erin McMullen and Colleen Mary Carpenter and their children Hayden McMullen, Patrick Cullinan and Thomas Cullinan, nephews Doug Libertowski, Mark Libertowski, Bob Conkle and wife Maria Conkle, and great nieces Hannah, Emily, Sara and Molly, as well as several other extended family members.
Some of Barb's favorite moments were when her family from Ohio would come to Western Maryland and spend time on the farm with her "critters," her adopted community, close friends and family.
She is also survived by a community of grateful Maryland business leaders, pampered pets, close friends, animal lovers, and music lovers for her twenty-five years of working retirement that laid the foundation for Mountain Maryland as a Mid-Atlantic destination.
Simply stated, Barb attempted to change everything for the better and almost always succeeded.
Beginning at Kent State University School of Management, her professional life focused on strategic planning and the role of emerging technologies in effective organizations. She was a pioneer in women's executive corporate leadership.
Barb was twice recognized by the White House for public service initiatives while working as an executive at AT&T - as an organizer for President Clinton's Leadership Conference on Youth and for her communications work on the Women in Military Service Memorial project.
She retired in 1998 from a thirty-year marketing career with various business units of Bell System, ending as AT&T's Vice-President of Emerging Markets and Technologies. Other positions held during her tenure there included Director of Strategic Planning for the AT&T Government Markets division, which included public policy lobbying responsibilities. Her work led to the adoption of 311 information systems in many state and local governments.
Purchasing land near Oldtown for her retirement, she built an idyllic farm where she spared no effort in keeping a menagerie of alpacas, horses, goats, ducks, dogs and cats, and generously shared that space with many friends, visitors and family.
She maintained consulting work as a principal in The Crawford Group Consulting Firm headquartered in Washington and later as Owner/President of Rivers Edge Business Associates, a Western Maryland based marketing communications firm.
Beginning in 2003, she was drafted to serve as the Executive Director of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce for six years and was named Maryland Chamber of Commerce Director of The Year in 2006. Ms. Buehl soon assumed a double role through the Chamber, coordinating a transformative change in Allegany County Tourism into the digital age. As tourism grew under her direction, successfully promoting Mountain Maryland on-line as a regional destination, she managed the Allegany County Department of Tourism under contract with the Allegany County Commissioners from 2010 to 2016, overseeing numerous contracts, including Exclamation Labs and McClarran and Williams, to create and manage award winning digital promotions and website content.
Beginning in 2017, Barb served as Community Liaison for DelFest LLC and the DelFest Foundation, becoming an integral part of the beloved McCoury family's work in their adopted Western Maryland home. DelFest owners Del and Jean McCoury, along with Stan Strickland, Dre' Anders and the entire McCoury family, became deep friends who embraced her during her final illness.
Barb's community leadership positions included Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) Board of Directors, Allegheny Trail Alliance Board of Directors, C&O Canal Trust Advisory Board, Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Board of Directors, Frostburg State University Board of Visitors, Western Maryland Health System Community Relations Board, Federal Correctional Institution Community Relations Board, Allegany County Social Services Board of Directors, County United Way Board of Directors, Community Wellness Coalition, Allegany County Public Schools Vocational Ed Advisory Board.
Community awards, projects and recognition include Maryland Chamber of Commerce Director of the Year 2006, MD Governor's Conference on Tourism - Best Electronic Marketing 2004, MD Governor's Conference on Tourism - Best Electronic Marketing 2005, MD Governor's Conference on Tourism – Best Printed Material 2011, MD Governor's Tourism Partnership Award for Certified Trail Friendly 2012, Rotary Harris Fellowship Award, Entrepreneurial Spirit Award from the Allegany Chamber Commerce 2015, Maryland Secretary of Commerce Citation for 10-year successful DelFest growth in 2017.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to the animal shelter or rescue of the donor's choice.
Arrangements are set for Saturday, June 7. They include 2-4 PM Friend and Family Visitation at Scarpelli Funeral Home P.A., 108 Virginia Avenue, Cumberland, MD followed by 4 PM services at the Funeral Home. Graveside services are set for 5:30 PM. Burial location details and information on a Saturday evening celebration of Barb's life in Downtown Cumberland will be announced on Friday.