BARBARA LEWIS

Barb was born in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio on October 18, 1927, to William T. and Hazel Hinchee Reline. When she was 13 her family moved from the banks of the Ohio River to the “hilltop” village of St. Clairsville to begin the restoration of “the orchard:” five idyllic acres of apple, peach, plum and cherry trees right in the middle of town. Her “job” in high school involved working the Reline family orchard, picking, packaging, selling, and delivering fruit to neighbors and many of the small stores and markets in town. Upon graduating from St. Clairsville High School in 1945, where she would exchange her cheerleader outfit for drumsticks and marching band uniform at half-time.

Barb began her nurse’s training at the Ohio Valley General Hospital in Wheeling, WV. Though technically against the rules, she met and “quietly” married her first husband, James B. (Jim) Hughes II, of Wheeling. After earning her R.N. in 1948, and before Jim unexpectedly passed away in 1953, Barbara gave birth to sons James B. (“Bo”) Hughes III, and Robert R. (Bob) Hughes. The loss of her husband and the boys’ father necessitated a move back to her hometown of St. C. from Pittsburgh, PA where Jim had been a grad student and teaching assistant at the University of Pittsburgh. Barb was forever grateful for the kindnesses shown by her parents in welcoming her and her boys with loving, open arms, and by providing them shelter and child-care while she restarted her career in nursing at the OVGH where she had trained. On October 8, 1954, Barb married Charles Wheeler (aka, “Junior, Charlie, PapPap, and Boppy”) Lewis II, of Belmont, OH. They met at Elsie’s Diner in a snowstorm a year or so earlier. Not fully knowing what he was getting himself into with this gorgeous young widow and her two “spirited” sons, he and Barbara added another “also spirited” son, Charles Wheeler (“Chuck”) Lewis III, a “slightly less spirited” daughter, Nancy Ann Lewis, and at last, the “trouble-free” daughter they had longed for and deserved but had thus far been denied, Martha Lynn (“Marti”) Lewis. Thank you, Marti!

Barb’s career in nursing spanned four decades across multiple settings throughout the upper Ohio Valley, including stints at the Ohio Valley General Hospital, Peterson Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, The St. Clairsville Clinic, and three years as the School Nurse for the St. Clairsville – Richland City School District. No one could be better suited to the task of caring for and healing than Barbara. She truly embodied those rare qualities of compassion, empathy, and a genuine selfless devotion to others.

In addition to nursing, Barb was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church in St. Clairsville, serving as an Elder and Deacon and committed member of the Women’s Association. In the mold of her mother, Hazel, she perfected the arts of sewing, quilting, needle- point, and baking. She made her boys’ sport coats, her daughters’ dresses, and (much to Bob’s chagrin) a pink Bunny Suit for Halloween! Barb made her home the place for all to gather, whether for holidays, after-prom parties, after-school basketball tournaments, or cookies and a place to rest your feet. Barb was beautiful both inside and out, resilient in the face of life’s challenges, accepting and kind to others, tough, but always a softy. She was unconditionally loving, forgiving, and generous. If one of her children’s friends needed anything (a hug, a ride, a sympathetic ear, or 20 dollars and a bus ticket home), they knew exactly where to go. Among the wonderful things Barbara may be remembered for, and assuredly there are many given the number of lives she touched, her greatest and most enduring legacy lies in the love and loyalty she fostered among her stitched together crew of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who adored her boundlessly. So, Barbara (aka “Mom, Momma, Mamacita, Mimi”), after a lifetime of giving, nurturing, healing, and loving all of us, may you forever rest in the peace you so deserve.

Barbie was preceded in death by her parents, William and Hazel Reline, sisters Martha Symington, Lucinda Greenlie, and Bertha Reline, brother William Reline, and her loving husband of 62 years, Charles.

Barb is survived by her brother Thomas (Kathy) Reline of Little Rock, AR, sister and brother-in-law Sudy and Lee Irvine of Cincinnati, OH, and her life-long best friend, Betty Evick of St. Clairsville, OH. She is also survived by her children James (Carol) Hughes of Lenoir, NC, Robert (Elizabeth) Hughes of Dallas, TX, Charles (Mary) Lewis of St. Clairsville, OH, Nancy (Dave) Murphy of Raleigh, NC, and Martha (Chris) Nash of Zanesville, OH. Her twelve grandchildren are Sarah Lane, Chris Baker, Katie Lewis, Rachel Graham, Emily Stiles, Dana Tartaglia, Megan Murphy, Claire Nash, Payton Hughes, Graham Hughes, James B Henry Hughes, and Emily Nash. Her seven great grandchildren are Emma, Owen, Grayson, Logan, Walker, Leah, Elin, and Rosie. She also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews too numerous to mention.

Barb’s ashes will be interred alongside Charlie’s at Union Cemetery in St. Clairsville. A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Central Ohio, Attn: Philanthropy Department, 2269 Cherry Valley Rd., Newark, OH 43055, or a charity of your choice in her honor.