Beech Tree News Network

Pauline Woolbright finished her earthly mission on September 1, 2024, at the age of 95 in her home in Morgantown, Kentucky, surrounded by her family, after a long illness.

            Pauline was born on May 12, 1929, in Woodbury, Kentucky.  She was preceded in death by her husband Horace Reeves Woolbright, her son Randall (Randy) Glenn Woolbright, her mother Minnie Mae Bingham Hampton Hurt, her father George Washington Hampton, and her brother Archie Clay Hampton.  She is survived by her daughter Rosalind Jane Woolbright of Maryland and North Carolina and granddaughter Jessica Laurel Woolbright Huckemeyer of Oregon;  her daughter Deborah (Debbie) Gail Woolbright of Maine and Kentucky and granddaughter Melissa Melby Cosminova (Patrick) of Florida and grandson Joshua John Melby of Kentucky and two great grandsons Kyle Melby of Vermont and Jacob Melby of Kentucky and currently serving in the United States Marine Corps; granddaughter Sara Vanessa Woolbright Benner (Lucas) (daughter of Randy Woolbright) and great grandchildren Isabella, Nathanael, Evan, and Timothy of North Carolina; and nieces and nephews.

            Pauline was a loving daughter, wife, mother, and friend; a businesswoman; an adventurer; a talented seamstress and needle worker; a fabulous cook and baker; and gardener.  

            Pauline spent her early years in Butler County, Kentucky.  Like many other children at this time, she lived with her grandmother Della Parks Bingham Baxter while her parents worked.  Her grandmother was a noted seamstress, midwife, and herbalist who was skilled at making herbal remedies from plants she grew or collected.  Pauline learned the arts of sewing and needlework from her grandmother, watching and learning as her grandmother sewed her clothes on a Singer treadle sewing machine.  Pauline also learned some of her grandmother’s herbal secrets and was noted for her Balsam tincture and salves that she prepared and shared with friends and family.  Before her death, she entrusted this family recipe to her daughter Debbie.  In the Butler County school system, Pauline developed a love of learning and beautiful penmanship. She passed her love of learning to her children while helping them with their homework and through the purchase of a set of Encyclopaedia Britannia that her children would spend hours reading.  Unfortunately, she was unable to pass on her penmanship.

            Pauline married Horace Reeves Woolbright and began her adventure as a United States Air Force military wife, maintaining a household during her husband’s long overseas deployments while living in Louisiana, Arkansas, South Dakota, North Carolina, and Ohio before returning to Morgantown to care for her mother and mother-in-law.                 

            Wherever the Air Force moved the family, she made a home surrounded by flowers and plants.  She specialized in African Violets and with each move, the backseat of the car would be filled with children and the African Violets.  Her gardens were artistically designed and filled with colorful blooms during each season.  It was not unusual for cars to stop on the road to admire the flowers, or even pick a bouquet.  Pauline had the proverbial “green thumb” and what she planted grew and flourished.  She shared and traded seeds and cuttings with friends and was happiest working among her flowers.  

            Pauline was always up for adventures, whether hiking in the Badlands of South Dakota or on the Navaho Reservation in Arizona, going jet skiing with her granddaughter, traveling cross county exploring national parks, traveling through Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, riding horses in Colorado, visiting family in Florida, spending Christmases in New Hampshire, or spending time each summer on the North Carolina coast.  

            As a seamstress and needle worker, Pauline continued the tradition of her grandmother and sewed clothing for her children, including a wedding dress.  She also crocheted and quilted.  She began crocheting a tablecloth in Louisiana, the family’s first military move, and would continue it after each move until life intervened and she would put it away until the next move.  She finished that tablecloth in North Carolina, the site of the family’s last military move.  She loved embroidering pillowcases and crocheting lace edges for sheets and pillowcases.  Her quilts and crocheted items are now treasured by her children and grandchildren.

            Pauline excelled as a cook and baker.  She used food to celebrate every holiday from cherry pies on George Washington’s Birthday, heart shaped cookies on Valentine’s Day, turkey and dressing on Thanksgiving, and fruit cake and divinity candy at Christmas.  She would can food from her garden to share or use through the winter.  She excelled with jellies and jams, especially strawberry, and would make blackberry cobbler from blackberries she gathered.  Her daughters have continued her tradition of making a Kentucky Coconut Cake for Christmas.

            Pauline had the gifts of hospitality and discretion, a listening ear and tender heart.  Wherever she lived, Pauline made friends with her neighbors, with whom she played Rook (a card game), shared meals, exchanged recipes, and listened.  Even after moving, she continued these friendships while developing new ones.  Although she was reserved around strangers, Pauline always had time for a chat and cup of coffee with friends.  

            As a business woman, depending on where the family was located, she worked in health care, child care, food service, rental property management, and clothing manufacture.

            Pauline was a Christian and Baptist.  She served as President of her Sunday School class.  She lived her faith by example through her love and care of her family and her friendship with others.  She avoided gossip and quarrels and always had a good word to say about everyone. 

            Pauline had a special love for animals.  She received her first pet, Shep, a German Shepherd, as a child on her grandmother’s farm.  Over the years, many cats and dogs followed, most of whom were strays who found their way to Pauline’s house and into her heart.  

In honor of her love of animals, the family is requesting that instead of flowers, a donation may be made to the Butler County Animal Shelter at Friends of Butler County Animals, P.O. Box 22, Morgantown, KY 42261.  Should you wish to donate using Venmo or PayPal, you may call the animal shelter at 270-526-2694 for additional information.  

            A graveside service to honor Pauline’s life will be held Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 1:00pm at Fairview Cemetery, Bowling Green, Kentucky.