Pauline Barrom

Our dear mother Pauline Barrom passed away on January 22, 2023, at the noble age of 99 at her home in Alpine Way in Shelton, Washington.

Pauline was born August 26, 1923 in Centralia, WA and spent her childhood in the nearby community of Fords Prairie with parents, Horace and Helen VanLiew, and sister, Nadine.

Following her graduation from Centralia High School in 1940, Pauline moved to Shelton to live with her aunt, Bertha Cameron, who owned and operated the Cameron Hotel. Fate led her to a job at Seafirst Bank, a job that followed her to the Seafirst branch in Pullman, WA where she worked while attending Washington State University. While at WSU she met her future husband James Barrom. She and Jim settled in Shelton, where Jim worked for Simpson Timber and Pauline worked at Seafirst Bank. They raised four children and celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary just before Jim passed away in 1993.

Pauline was a loving mom with the gift of patience, an athletic and competitive spirit and a heart for service. She greeted everyone with a welcoming smile and a sense of humor. In her younger years, Mom volunteered for PTA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and more. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, serving in several ministries and singing in the choir. A creative person, Mom enjoyed many hobbies including sewing, gardening and crafting. Known for her homemade cookies, she always had some on hand to share. Her true passion was writing. She wrote several unpublished novels and delighted in seeing some of her short stories appear in well-known periodicals.

In later years Mom continued to live an active and enriching life of travel, social events, volunteering, and spending time with friends and family.

Pauline is preceded in death by her husband, Jim Barrom, parents, Horace and Helen VanLiew, sister and brother-in-law, Nadine and Jim Weil, and daughter-in-law Trish Barrom.

Pauline will be dearly missed by her four children and spouses Dan (Larraine), Linda (Paul), Al (Chris) and Marie (Dave); her niece Deb (Chuck), nephew Fred (Marsha), daughter-in-law Kathy; and numerous grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren, and beloved friends and caregivers.

A service to celebrate Pauline’s life will be held March 4th, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Shelton.

Please share a memory of Pauline at: https://mccombwagner.com/tribute/details/4880/Pauline-Barrom/condolences.html#content-start