Obituary of Barbara J Gilliand

Barbara Jane Gilliand Vestal: Barbara Jane Gilliand was born in Oxford, NY on December 24, 1934 to Grace and Stuart Holdridge. She was predeceased by her parents; a son, Gregory A. Gilliand on September 13, 1978; and a sister, Esther L. Holdridge. She is survived by her husband, Eugene A. Gilliand of Vestal; a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Clifford Booth; her grandchildren, Davis, EvaLynn, and Alden Booth, all of Towson, MD; sister, Josephine Murdock of Seneca Falls; a sister-in-law, Susan Kipar; a brother-in-law, David Kipar; and an aunt, Roselyn King of Richfield Springs, NY; several nieces, nephews and cousins, and many dear friends. Barbara graduated from Oxford Academy and Central Schools in 1953, State University of New York at Oneonta in 1957 with a B.S. degree in elementary education. She taught in many area schools including Oxford Academy and Central Schools, Norwich-Perry Brown Schools, Vestal, Windsor, and a Military Base school in Germany. She taught kindergarten for several years while living in Germany. In 1992 she retired from Harpursville (W.A. Olmstead Elementary School). She loved all the children whose lives she touched. She loved family, friends, home and church, where she often taught Sunday school, vacation Bible school, music and piano. Her special interests were gardening, flowers, picking berries, reading, charity and church work. She was a member of the Harpursville United Methodist Church from 1976-1995, and the Vestal United Methodist Church from 1965-1976, and from 1995 to the present. She was a member of the United Methodist Women serving as President and Co-President. A member of the retired teachers Assn., Ridgehaven Garden Club, "Friend" of Cutler Gardens, Vestal Historical Society, and the Business and Professional Women of Oxford. Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. from the Vestal United Methodist Church, 328 Main St., Vestal. The Rev Michael Willis, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Vestal Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Coleman and Daniels Funeral Home Inc., 765 Main St., Vestal, Thursday from 4-6 p.m. Expressions of Sympathy may be made in her memory to the Wyoming Conference Children's Home, 1182 Chenango St., Binghamton, NY 13901, or to Dollars for Scholars c/o of Harpursville Central School District, P.O. Box #11, Harpursville, NY 13787.