Deb Bartholomew

It’s hard to imagine Kingswood without Deb. The smile in the picture is the way I remember Deb. Cheerful, friendly and loving life, even when it wasn’t exactly going her way. I think of the bears and deer that she hit with her car on her way to and from work.

Deb’s health began to deteriorate last summer. Though she was struggling, she still made her way to Kingswood nearly every day to see her friends. By the end of the summer she was enjoying the Saturday night campfire and s’more from her car.

Deb’s obituary can be found at https://www.hbfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/Debra-Sue-Bartholomew?obId=37450367

Deb was our amazing caretaker in the off season since 2004 and our source of local news in the summer. She was a welcoming committee of one, entering with a loud, cheerful greeting from the back of the barn in the summer or arriving in the farmhouse driveway on her quad in the off season.Routinely through the off season Deb checked the house and kept it shoveled out after every storm. For rentals she turned up the heat before people arrived, moved the wood to the porch and made sure the house was clean and trash was removed. If a problem came up during the group’s stay, she helped to problem solve often with support from her dad, Paul.

One warm April weekend I arrived in a vehicle not known to her. I hadn’t called her in advance, which was our custom. Deb walked to the door yelling at me about how close she was to calling the cops, but she saw the Kingswood.calm bumper sticker and figured it was safe. Then Deb started on the string of questions about my life and family. She had only met my daughter once, but she always asked about her by name. She had a gift of remembering everyone’s name and family members.

Deb kept me on track during OnSite Insights program, and she pitched in with the cutting. She often directed kids to help out carrying things to and from the vehicle and added her own tips. It was her time for catching up with families.

Winters in Hancock are tough and sometimes lonely. After the Swanson rental in February the weekly phone calls from Deb would start. She was counting down to camp and wanted to know about people, her people. It would be 10 minutes asking who had made reservations and which staff members I had seen.

I’m missing Deb!

-Lynn Grainger

From Alicia Swords

“Deb was a constant friend. She cared for Kingswood, for us, and for all campers and community members. She especially cheered on Emma’s growth and accomplishments, as we know she did for others. She showed her love by showing up, by offering to mow or shovel snow, by keeping track of everyone’s comings and goings, by being part of the weekly camp activities, and by calling to update us on her health and on bear sightings. She took her role as Kingswood Caretaker seriously and carried it out with joy and love. We will miss her too. “

From Kathy and Mike Weinlein

“Deb always had a smile on her face and obviously loved Kingswood and all who were there. Whether on her ATV before camp officially started or visiting daily during camp she was always a welcome presence.”