Barbara Church
1918 - 2010 (92 years)-
Name Barbara Church Birth 26 May 1918 Gender Female Death 1 Sep 2010 Person ID I53300 Stewartsny Last Modified 2 Dec 2025
Father Frank Roscoe Church, b. 17 Nov 1883 d. 12 Apr 1941 (Age 57 years) Relationship natural Mother Yula Marr Smith, b. 1 Mar 1887 d. 29 Sep 1977 (Age 90 years) Relationship natural Family ID F17587 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Milton H. Holthouse, b. 30 Apr 1907 d. May 1979 (Age 72 years) Marriage 26 Jun 1943 Scriba, Oswego, New York 
Children 1. Gary Holthouse [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] 2. Barbara Ann Holthouse 3. Lynn E. Holthouse, b. 23 Jul 1950, Pulaski, Oswego, New York d. 18 Nov 2018 (Age 68 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]Family ID F17573 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 2 Dec 2025
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Notes - Barbara C. Holthouse, 92, of Pulaski, passed away Wednesday at her home. In a favorite picture from her childhood, Barbara C. Holthouse stands in a beautiful garden with her younger brother, Frank. They are smiling, youthful and full of life. In 2007 Frank passed away, and on September 1, 2010, Barbara, 92, went home to meet her Heavenly Father and is once again standing in that garden with her brother she loved so deeply. Barbara, our beloved mother, grandmother and friend, was born May 26, 1918, in Syracuse. She was the daughter of Frank Roscoe Church Sr. and Yula Marr Smith. After graduating from Oswego High School in 1936, Barbara attended Syracuse Secretarial School. She worked as executive secretary at Columbia Mills in Minetto. It was there she met her future husband, Milton H. Holthouse. They were married on June 26, 1943. Through their lives together, they owned and operated retail stores in Syracuse, Oswego, Lyons, Carthage, DeRuyter and Dolgeville. In 1960 they, along with their three children, moved to Pulaski and opened the Pulaski Department Store. Several years later, they opened The Yarn Shoppe two doors down. Milton fell ill in the 1970s, and Barbara devoted her life to his care until his death on May 1, 1979. The family continued operating the Pulaski businesses until 1986. Following Milton's death, she focused her attention on her grandchildren and became instrumental in their lives. She never missed a concert, recital, awards ceremony or graduation and regularly kept in touch through visits, letters and phone calls. For 50 years, Barbara was an active and dedicated member of the Pulaski Baptist Church. She sang in the choir, served as church clerk, secretary and historian and was Sunday school superintendent as well as a teacher. She spent thousands of hours assisting with church operations over the years, and shortly before her death she could even be seen folding church bulletins though she didn't have the strength to stand. Barbara always had a smile on her face and extended a helping hand to members of the church. Whether giving children rides to Sunday school, praying for those in need or being the first to greet a new face in the congregation, Barbara never failed to follow the teachings of her Lord Jesus Christ. She further contributed to the Pulaski community by serving on the board of directors of Springbrook Apartments and as a member of the Eastern Star and Tuesday Study Club. Barbara was an avid reader and spent many countless hours in the kitchen baking cookies, pies and meals for those she loved. Her cheerful demeanor, thoughtfulness and generosity will be missed by all who knew her. Barbara is survived by her sons, Gary (Barbara) Holthouse of Oswego and Lynn (Judy) Holthouse of Pulaski; her daughter, Barbara (Jim) Gayne of Altmar; seven grandchildren, two-great grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; seven stepgreat-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Norma Church of Scriba; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Pulaski Baptist Church, with burial in Pulaski Cemetery. Calling hours will be 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Foster-Hax Funeral Home, 52 Park St., Pulaski. Donations may be made in Barbara's name to the Pulaski Baptist Church, 7 Bridge Street, Pulaski.
Published in Syracuse Post Standard on September 2, 2010
- Barbara C. Holthouse, 92, of Pulaski, passed away Wednesday at her home. In a favorite picture from her childhood, Barbara C. Holthouse stands in a beautiful garden with her younger brother, Frank. They are smiling, youthful and full of life. In 2007 Frank passed away, and on September 1, 2010, Barbara, 92, went home to meet her Heavenly Father and is once again standing in that garden with her brother she loved so deeply. Barbara, our beloved mother, grandmother and friend, was born May 26, 1918, in Syracuse. She was the daughter of Frank Roscoe Church Sr. and Yula Marr Smith. After graduating from Oswego High School in 1936, Barbara attended Syracuse Secretarial School. She worked as executive secretary at Columbia Mills in Minetto. It was there she met her future husband, Milton H. Holthouse. They were married on June 26, 1943. Through their lives together, they owned and operated retail stores in Syracuse, Oswego, Lyons, Carthage, DeRuyter and Dolgeville. In 1960 they, along with their three children, moved to Pulaski and opened the Pulaski Department Store. Several years later, they opened The Yarn Shoppe two doors down. Milton fell ill in the 1970s, and Barbara devoted her life to his care until his death on May 1, 1979. The family continued operating the Pulaski businesses until 1986. Following Milton's death, she focused her attention on her grandchildren and became instrumental in their lives. She never missed a concert, recital, awards ceremony or graduation and regularly kept in touch through visits, letters and phone calls. For 50 years, Barbara was an active and dedicated member of the Pulaski Baptist Church. She sang in the choir, served as church clerk, secretary and historian and was Sunday school superintendent as well as a teacher. She spent thousands of hours assisting with church operations over the years, and shortly before her death she could even be seen folding church bulletins though she didn't have the strength to stand. Barbara always had a smile on her face and extended a helping hand to members of the church. Whether giving children rides to Sunday school, praying for those in need or being the first to greet a new face in the congregation, Barbara never failed to follow the teachings of her Lord Jesus Christ. She further contributed to the Pulaski community by serving on the board of directors of Springbrook Apartments and as a member of the Eastern Star and Tuesday Study Club. Barbara was an avid reader and spent many countless hours in the kitchen baking cookies, pies and meals for those she loved. Her cheerful demeanor, thoughtfulness and generosity will be missed by all who knew her. Barbara is survived by her sons, Gary (Barbara) Holthouse of Oswego and Lynn (Judy) Holthouse of Pulaski; her daughter, Barbara (Jim) Gayne of Altmar; seven grandchildren, two-great grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; seven stepgreat-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Norma Church of Scriba; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Pulaski Baptist Church, with burial in Pulaski Cemetery. Calling hours will be 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Foster-Hax Funeral Home, 52 Park St., Pulaski. Donations may be made in Barbara's name to the Pulaski Baptist Church, 7 Bridge Street, Pulaski.