Barbara Ann Boyd Rankin widow of the late Rev. Dr. John Roberts Rankin, died on February 15, 2018 in Fishkill, NY. She was the only child of the late Dr. John Herriot Boyd and Rachel Dickson Stevenson Boyd of New Wilmington, PA. She is survived by four children, Rachel VanDerStuyf and her husband, Adam, of New York, Elizabeth Rankin of Maine, John Rankin III and his wife, Amanda, of Georgia and Rebecca Smiley and her husband, Shawn, of Washington, PA. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Keaton Elizabeth and Carson Rhys McEvoy, Finn Roberts and Josie Ann VanDerStuyf, and Tommy Alexander Rankin.

Barbara will be remembered as an active member and volunteer in the Presbyterian Churches her husband served and the communities in which they were located. She was an ordained Presbyterian Deacon, Sunday School teacher, VBS Director and teacher and was a Volunteer Coordinator at the First Presbyterian Church, California, PA where she developed various Volunteer Mission Projects in response to expressed needs. In the Edgewood Presbyterian Church, Bradfordwoods, Hickory and California, PA churches she worked as a team member with her husband in planning and leading Youth Fellowship and Young Adult Programs. In retirement, her husband served as part time Pastor of the Roscoe Presbyterian Church. There she coordinated an effort to give needed supplies to the Washington Women’s Shelter. She was a member of the church’s Janet Ray Circle.

Barbara was an active fundraising volunteer for the California Area Public Library through Friends of the Library when the group coordinated the library’s first auction to raise money for the newly reopened railroad station library in 1975. She received a commendation from the Presbyterian Church Sessions for her dedication to this successful community effort.

She was elected to two terms on the California Area School Board and was an instrumental part of the negotiations and resolution of the divisive district school stride.

The Center in The Woods benefited from her efforts, starting in 1984, as a Meals-on-Wheels driver or runner and later a Building Tour Guide at the facility during their outdoor fall Oak Festival. She also served as a volunteer Administration Desk receptionist.

Rankin attended Muskingum College after graduating from New Wilmington Area High School, and graduated from California State College. She earned a degree in Business and Commercial Writing and then wrote for the Tribune Review. She wrote news releases for the California and Roscoe Presbyterian Churches as well as various non-profit groups in the area.

Rug hooking, usually original designs, was one of her many hobbies. Two of her designs were featured in the Association of Traditional Rug Hooking Artists (ATHA) Quarterly, one in full color on the back cover. Many of her pieces are in private collections from Virginia to California.

A memorial service will be held on March 17, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in California, PA. Memorial contributions may be made to the Center in The Woods, California Public Library, California or Roscoe Presbyterian Churches.