Barbara Joan Coolidge

Barbara Joan Warner Coolidge was born July 19, 1931 in Charles City, Iowa, to the late Rev. Arthur L. Warner and Alice Myers Warner. She was married for 30 years to Edward Coolidge, who died in 1987.

Barbara was a 1952 graduate from Juniata College, Huntington, PA .  She retired from a career with National Institutes of Health as head of the histo-pathological section of the National Cancer Institute. She wrote a lab manual still in use today along with several scientific papers.

Barbara is a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren where she carried many responsibilities. She was on various boards and commissions, church board chair and organist for 20 years. She is currently a member of the Thurmont Church of the Brethren, Thurmont, MD, where she was recognized for 19 years of service as church treasurer. She served on the District Disaster Response Committee, which sponsored an annual action fundraiser for disaster.  She worked diligently collecting school supplies for the Thurmont Ministerium and items for Health Kits for disaster relief.

Barbara was past president of VFW  Auxiliary, Post 9862. Over her lifetime, she volunteered with the Girl Scouts, Driving for Cancer and a number of schools and various civic organizations and volunteered 26 years completing income taxes for seniors and low income .

Barbara loved her family and friends and loved to travel.  She  visited 49 of the 50 US states and countries in S. America, Europe,  Asia and Africa.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Robert William Coolidge, sister, Janice Rosensteil, brother Ralph Warner and son-in-law, Michael Gornall. She is survived by: sister-in-law Lorraine Warner, Broadway, VA; Sister Pamela Franklin and husband Philip, Modesto, CA; Children: daughter, Patricia Gornall, Baltimore, OH, Son, Russell Coolidge and wife, Kathy, Washington, D.C; Grandchildren: Eric Sullivan and wife, Monica, Washington, DC,  Shannon Price , Silver Spring, MD, Michael  Gornall II,  Sugar Creek , OH; Great Grandchildren: Liam, Eleanor, & Simone Sullivan, Oliver Q & Violet Davidson and Michael &  Madden Gornall.

The family will receive friends on SATURDAY January 27, 2024 at the Thurmont Church of the Brethren 14 Altamont Avenue Thurmont, MD 21788 beginning at 10:30 AM with memorial service beginning promptly at 11 AM with Pastor Leon Yoder officiating.

Barbara’s care has been entrusted to Black’s Funeral Home of Sabillasville. Online condolences at www.blacksfuneralhomes.com