Princess Anne - Barbara Ellen Pugh Bloodsworth, 91, of Princess Anne, passed away on February 11, 2022 after a brief stay at Hospice by the Lake, in Salisbury. Originally from Trappe, Maryland she was the daughter of Ruth V. Smith Pugh and Walter A. Pugh.
Barbara grew up on a farm near the ruins of Old White Marsh Church sometimes known as "Hole in the Wall" located on Route 50 near Trappe, Md. Upon graduation from Easton High School in 1947, she enrolled in Salisbury Teachers College and in addition to earning a degree she also met and married her husband Doug. They began their family in 1952 and in 1961 she began her full-time teaching position at Princess Anne Elementary School. Over the course of her thirty-two years teaching in Somerset County, she also worked at Greenwood Middle School and Mt. Vernon Elementary. She truly loved teaching and never tired of seeing former pupils and though their name might escape her at the moment, she could retrieve reliable memories of something about them and what a pleasure it was to see them again.
Upon her retirement in 1990, Barbara devoted more time volunteering in the community. She had begun her involvement with the Historical Society serving as a docent in the 1960′s at various properties on the Olde Princess Anne Days Tour held every October. She became more involved in the programs of the organization as well as serving on the Board of Directors for a number of years. She was a docent at Teackle Mansion since 1990 and in 2003 she took over the role of finding docents to work the three days/week the mansion was open in addition to working many, many, hours herself. She continued in this role for about eight or so years. Barbara became a member of the Somerset County Retired School Personnel Association as soon as she was eligible and was instrumental in getting the organization to become members of the Blood Bank. She also joined the Garden Club and served as its president in the early 2000′s. This was one of the joys of her life as she was always gardening at her home and arranging flowers for family events. She was quite talented in this regard, won many awards as a small grower as well as winning ribbons competing in various classifications offered in the annual Daffodil Show and the Herb Show, and was honored with the Joanna Tilghman Award for her outstanding contributions. Throughout her years as a member she created many centerpieces for the Historical Society (Teackle Mansion) and other organizations when there was a request for her talents. Barbara also served on the Salisbury University Alumni Board as a class agent in the 90′s and early 2000′s. While not an actual member of St. Peter's United Methodist Church in Oriole, she was a very dedicated volunteer especially once she retired. Barbara helped whenever called upon for funeral dinners, the flea market, and making and selling sausage which was a huge fund-raiser for the church. She also taught Bible School during several summers. In 1994, after doing sufficient research to prove she had a descendant who participated in the Revolutionary War, she became a member of the Nanticoke Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was called upon to chair the chapter's historical essay contest (Middle School Students in Somerset County) for a number of years and also served as the chapter's Regent from 2000-2002. In 2019 she received a certificate recognizing her for 25 years of dedicated service. As a member of the Shoreland Club, a Federated Women's Club in Somerset County that existed between 1906-1996, Barbara was responsible for overseeing Art awards for school students.
In 2006 Barbara was recognized with the Governor's Citation "Maryland's Most Beautiful People" in honor of her noteworthy contributions as a dedicated volunteer in Somerset County. In 2011, the Somerset County Historical Trust honored her with its Preservation Service Award which was very meaningful as she considered historical preservation of primary importance. All of the organizations with whom she became involved recognized and appreciated her contributions over her years of service to them. She developed many close friendships with those she served, and missed seeing them as she became less able to attend meetings.
Retirement also afforded Barbara more opportunity to follow her grandchildren's sporting events. An accomplished athlete herself, she played Field Hockey and Basketball at STC and was named the Best Female Athlete in 1951. She and husband Doug had established a habit of spectating their children's sporting events and she continued to spend many hours in retirement following the interscholastic and summer recreation games of her grandchildren.
Barbara was preceded in death by three sisters, Jean Pugh Slezak Valine, Margaret A. Pugh Yoash, Nancy Pugh Harrison, and one brother, Walter H. Pugh, as well as her husband of 49 years, Doug, Sr. and eldest child, Doug Jr. She is the last of her generation and is survived by two children, Debbie, of Princess Anne, and David (Alisa) of Delmar, daughter-in-law Robin, of Princess Anne, four grandchildren, Eric Bloodsworth (Jill) of Valencia, Spain, Michele Price (Matt) of Hunt Valley, MD, David Bloodsworth, Jr (Emily) of Laurel, DE and Alison Bloodsworth of Salisbury, and three great-grandchildren, Elle Bloodsworth, Josh Gianinni, and Natalie Price. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews with whom she maintained a close relationship throughout her lifetime.
The family suggests memorial contributions may be sent to the Somerset County Historical Society, PO Box 181, Princess Anne, MD 21853, or to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury MD. 21802.
Services are private.