Wilma Jean Barbour

Wilma Jean Barbour, 91, of Ashland, Kentucky passed peacefully surrounded by her family at King’s Daughters Hospital on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. Mrs. Barbour is preceded in death by her husband, William D. Barbour, two sisters Betty Adkins of Parkersburg, WV and Joann Dean of Huntington, WV and her parents Jonah and Lottie Mae Whitt of Huntington, WV. She is survived by her sister Bonnie Justice of Belpre, Ohio, her three children, 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Wilma Jean was known as Mother by her children, Jennifer (Dwight) Holbrook of Fairfax, VA, Richard (Mary) Barbour of Berea, KY and Laura (Tim) Highfield of Catlettsburg, KY, and as Nana or NanaBar by her seven grandchildren Becky (Steven) Ritchey, Melissa Walker, Eric (Tea) Holbrook, Rick (Robin) Barbour, Timothy Highfield, Natalie (Ed) Gray and Melanie (Joey) Sammons and her 13 great-grandchildren Cole, Adam, Matthew, Carter, Wyatt, Allison, Blake, Caylin, Julia, Nick, Emily, Naomi and Kate. She was also known to many nieces and nephews as Aunt Gege.
Born in Huntington, WV on October 20, 1927, Wilma worked for Ashland Independent School System from 1964-1970 as a Cafeteria Worker and as Cafeteria Manager from 1970 until she retired from Paul Blazer High School in 1997. She was an avid reader throughout her life and was always ready to “get up and go” and traveled extensively to visit with her family and on countless family vacations to her favorite beaches all along the East Coast.
By whatever name she answered to, Mother, Nana, Gege, Wilma, she has left an amazing legacy for her family as a fiercely independent, strong-willed woman who loved deeply and was loved by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
Pall Bearers for Mrs. Barbour are her three grandsons Rick, Eric and Tim and her 3 oldest great-grandsons Cole, Adam and Matthew. Honorary Pall Bearers are her great-grandsons Wyatt, Blake and Carter.
Visitation for Wilma Barbour will be from 6-8PM on Friday, January 4, 2019 and Funeral services at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Steen Funeral Home at 3409 13th Street, Ashland, KY officiated by Chaplain Dan Godwin. Burial services will be at Woodmere Cemetery in Huntington, WV immediately following. The family welcomes flowers or donations to the American Cancer Society.
Online condolence to www.steenfuneralhome.com

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