WICOMICO CHURCH—Barbara Marilynn Creighton Douglas, 94, of Wicomico Church passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 17, 2024. She was the widow of Brigadier General Clarence James Douglas Jr.
Barbara was born to Ruth Marion Cronin Creighton and Harold Crandall Creighton on January 21, 1930, in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Two months later, her father’s civil engineering position transferred him to New York and Barbara grew up outside New York City in The Bronx and Queens.
She enjoyed idyllic summers at her grandmother Edna Wiley Cronin Burwin’s home in Wakefield, where she and her friends spent their days sailing on Lake Quannapowitt (she was in charge of the jib), participating in the Episcopal Church youth group and visiting the soda fountain. As the oldest granddaughter, Edna commissioned her dressmaker to make Barbara’s wardrobe for the coming year, which was the start of Barbara’s love of fine clothing and personal appearance. In her senior year of high school, Barbara’s family moved back to Wakefield. She graduated from Wakefield Memorial High School and was known for her fashion flair and artistic sense.
Soon after graduation, Barbara’s father accepted an engineering position at Ladd Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska, and Barbara decided that this was an adventure not to be missed. Barbara traveled with her parents; her sister, Norma Jean; and brother, Richard Crandall. Her sister Linda Lee was born in Alaska. Barbara taught Sunday school at the Base Chapel and worked at the Post Exchange.
While eating at the base officer’s club, Barbara met the charming Lt. Clarence James “Doug” Douglas Jr. Soon the two were married and Barbara began her life as a military spouse. The couple traveled the country from coast to coast as her husband’s career and their beautiful family blossomed. They had four sons, Stephen Creighton, James Rager, Jeffrey Alan and Robert Blair; and two daughters, Shawn Lynne and Heather Anne.
Barbara especially enjoyed her time in Taiwan, where she was pampered with cooks, housekeepers and nannies, as well as a dashing diplomatic lifestyle. While there, Barbara put her artistic sense to work and the couple returned to the United States with beautiful Asian art and furnishings, many of which she personally designed.
After spending nearly two decades in Reston, Barbara and Doug ultimately retired to the Evergreen golf course community at the base of the Bull Run Mountain in Haymarket. Here, Barbara indulged in her love of interior design and colonial architecture. Their home was a four-story replica of the Colonial Williamsburg Wythe House, complete with a Raleigh Tavern Bar in the lower level. The powder room proudly displayed a needlepoint stating, “Antiques spoken here.” Barbara filled every room with period antiques and reproductions, including the lovely rugs, art and furniture she had purchased and commissioned in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Barbara volunteered as a docent at the historic Sully Plantation and earned her real estate license. In 2001, after 52 loving years of marriage, Doug passed away. For the next 15 years, Barbara lived independently in Haymarket, enjoying visits from her children and grandchildren. She managed her home and created beautiful boxwood gardens. An active member of Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, she ordered the flowers and made the arrangements for the church’s special events and liturgical seasons.
As her health began to deteriorate, in 2016 she moved to live in an apartment attached to the Wicomico Church home of her daughter and son-in-law, Shawn and Jim Lamb. Over the next eight years, she was blessed with a series of loving in-home caregivers who doted on her. Her care team was led by Maryhelen Hayden, who became a part of the family.
Barbara died at home, in the care of family and compassionate caregivers and with the indispensable support of Hospice of Virginia.
Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Ruth and Harold Creighton; her siblings, Norma Cochran and Richard Creighton; her husband, Clarence James Douglas Jr.; and her son, Stephen Creighton Douglas.
She is survived by her, sister Linda Tolan (Tim); her sons, James Rager Douglas, Jeffrey Alan Douglas (Linda) and Robert Blair Douglas (Ashli); her daughters, Shawn Douglas Lamb (Jim) and Heather Anne Douglas; daughter-in-law, Susan Douglas; and grandchildren, Scot McKee (Jonathan Lampke), Elaine Cudnik (Ryan), Elisa Turner (Aaron), James Lamb V (Chelsea), Andrew Douglas (Noah Stephens), Christin Schuette (Gary), Brittany Bondar (Andrey ), Adriana Douglas, Catherine Lamb, Alexander Miller, Katherine Douglas, Hayden Miller and Charles Douglas; and great-grandchildren, Mason Turner, Ellie Turner, Ava Schuette, William Cudnik, James Lamb VI, Addie Schuette, Brooks Cudnik, Airlie Schuette and Nora Lamb.
Funeral services are planned at Arlington Cemetery.
