Barbara Ullom Varner
Barbara Ullom Varner, daughter of William and Delilah Ullom, sister of Martha Jean McClure, beloved wife of Donald R. Varner Sr. and mother of Donald Jr., Martha, Kathryn, Scott and Jane, was united with her parents and Savior Saturday, February 4, 2012.
She successfully managed a long health challenge with respiratory disease and was determined to live her life without allowing pain or struggle to interfere with her mission.
She was born in Waynesburg, graduating from both Waynesburg High School and Waynesburg College. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.
Mrs. Varner started her career in Pittsburgh, married her college sweetheart, Don, and in 1952, moved to North Carolina to start a career and begin raising a family. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary April 12, 2012.
With a successful career in the North Carolina Department of Social Services and Child Welfare Services, she and her husband, working with the North Carolina Forestry Service, were blessed and fortunate to live in Sylva, New Bern, Raleigh and Cary, N.C. They developed lasting friendships in each community as their careers grew in scope and responsibility.
In harmony with their career and life paths, the Lord blessed them with five children, enabling Mrs. Varner to utilize her God-given skills as a loving, caring and responsible mother and wife. She placed God and her family first, above all, and was especially adept in developing and challenging her children to focus on their strengths and talents in service to others. After her retirement from the North Carolina Department of Social Services, she worked with pre-school children and focused on enriching and developing their lives.
“Miss Barbara, B-Anne, Barbie and Grandma Barbara” as she was fondly called, demonstrated a passion for life, with a subtle elegance and determination in her approach, manners and interactions. She had great insight for what was important and balanced setbacks and success with a healing humor of herself when around others. She was proud of “her sons” and equally so of “her girls,” sharing with each the importance of their independence and personal growth, while gently and constantly serving as mentor with her husband for the goal of total family commitment and unselfish love.
She loved celebrations of life, especially birthdays, Christmas and Independence Day, and was instrumental in ensuring traditions continued with beloved family, friends and neighbors. Her Christmas celebrations and famous Fourth of July backyard neighborhood block parties became events that positively impacted the lives of many with everlasting and precious memories.
Mrs. Varner was a member of Cary Presbyterian Church and also attended various services and events at Forest Hills Baptist Church with her children and grandchildren. She would not allow her health issues to deter her from worshiping in person and enjoyed the television ministries of Hayes Barton Baptist and First Presbyterian Churches.
On the college front, she was an avid and proud North Carolina State Wolfpack fan, as all of her children and many grandchildren have graduated or will graduate from the university and have participated in various sports and academic programs with success.
Surviving are her husband, Donald Sr. of Cary: a sister, Martha Jean of Martinsburg, W.Va.; five children, including a son, Donald Jr. and wife Nancy of Hendersonville, N.C., a daughter, Martha McCullen and husband Hugh of Clayton, N.C., a daughter, Kathryn Gentry and husband Rick of Raleigh, N.C., a son, Scott Varner and wife Laurie of Raleigh, and a daughter, Jane Branam and husband Chris of Cary; and 15 grandchildren.
Also surviving are three great-grandchildren.
Contributions in memory of Mrs. Varner can be made to American Lung Association of North Carolina, 514 Daniels Street No. 109, Raleigh, NC 27605, or online at www.lungusa.org/donate.