Barbara Wendy Ghormley

Barbara Wendy Ghormley, age 83 years, and a 54 year resident of Seal Beach, CA entered her eternal life on December 12, 2025. Born in 1942 on January 15th in Washington, DC to Elsie and Milton Halpern, she was the third child of four. She grew up and attended High Point High School in Tacoma Park, Maryland. The family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado and then she became a United Airlines stewardess for six years before meeting and marrying the love of her life, James Carlos Ghormley III, on August 12, 1967. They shared a wonderful 58 years, building a life together. They celebrated each other everyday, and as most retired couples do, were blessed to travel the world with dear friends, Chris and Gary Mucho and Marsha Wilson. Barbara’s most memorable trip was to Israel in 2011. She marveled at being able to walk where her Lord had walked 2000 years before. Before she passed this life, Barbara expressed “I can’t wait to see Him, I love Him so much”. She was devoted to everyone she met, but she had a special devotion to her Lord and relied on the Holy Spirit to guide her as a wife, mother and friend.

Living in Seal Beach, Barbara loved the beach and spent many a summer with good friends Kathy Fife and Anne New, packing up a van with kids, picnics and chairs to spend the entire day by the water. In these latter years, taking a drive up to Signal Hill in Long Beach or driving down Main Street in Seal Beach with her Jim became a simple joy. Barbara loved her walks, book club and spending time with her family. She was long time member of St. Hedwig’s Parish in Los Alamitos, CA. and was involved with the St. Francis Guild, a Catechism Sponsor and Eucharistic Minister. She loved to participate in the church’s Autumnfest every year and was a big supporter of Precious Life Shelter. She adored her church family and spoke often of how blessed she and Jim were to have such amazing love and support from them.

For her love of children, she worked at Los Alamitos School District for 25 years.

Barbara was everything to everyone who knew her. Her light, her love and her constant presence made all of us feel special by her. She taught us so much about the gift of life and family through her examples. She was a light in the world for all of us.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Jim Ghormley, her daughters - Jennifer C. Litzinger (Gary) from Warsaw, VA and Dr. Jill C. Ghormley from Seattle, WA, her grandchildren - Joseph, Juliann, and Kaley Litzinger and two sisters, Joan Baker and Susan Bunker; along with beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

The family is requesting in lieu of flowers donations be made in Barbara's name to Precious Life Shelter https://www.preciouslifeshelter.org/donate-today