Obituary of Barbara Jean Holman

Mrs. Barbara Jean Holman, 77, passed away on March 23, 2020 leaving behind her husband, Bruce Holman; daughters, Valerie (Bruce) Gresham and grandson, Zachery, of Los Angeles, CA and Nancy (Rick) Westrick; granddaughter, Katherine (Diego) Graziano and great-grandson, Tristan, of Albuquerque, NM; brother, Ron (Debbie) Wrightman of Santa Maria CA; sisters, Pauline (Richard) of Shelby Township, MI; Jonell (Jay) Winter of Santa Clarita, CA and Nancy (Evan) Gooch of Columbia, Tennessee. She was preceded by her sons, Gregory Holman and Andrew Holman in 2008. Barbara was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 23, 1942. She was one of seven children in the Agnes and Herbert Wrightman Family. Barbie was her beloved nickname. She graduated from the Thomas Cooley High School and after she graduated, she worked in the automobile insurance field. She was always going to school, getting different certifications and licensing in the insurance business. Barbara had her daughter, Nancy, around that time. Her family moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1963. Still working in insurance, Barbara started studying real estate and became a real estate agent as well. She started with selling property in California City, CA when it was dreamed to be a newly established desert community. However, Barbara became an insurance broker where she dedicated the rest of her work life. Barbara met her husband, Bruce, in Los Angeles. Barbara and Bruce had three children, Valerie, Andrew, and Gregory. They moved to North San Jose, CA for a few years. Not long after the family moved near the ocean to Santa Cruz. Barbara and Bruce were residing in Santa Cruz, CA for the past 45 years. Raising her family, she became a Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop. She also encouraged her sons to take up surfing which they loved. Always looking for new ways to grow in her life, Barbara was always reaching out to meet new people in the Santa Cruz area. Just before retiring, Barbara and Bruce moved to a retirement community where she participated in many park activities, including festive holiday get-togethers. She liked getting involved in cards, Mahjong, club house pool workouts, helping her neighbors, and volunteering wherever she could. Barbara loved life and many good friends. She will be dearly missed.