I reach out and take God's hand, and journey to the promise land. Sarah Jane Splain Barnett McFalls, 99, passed away on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at St. Anne's Retirement Community. She was just five months shy of her 100th birthday. Sarah was born in Columbia, daughter of the late George and Anna Coble Splain. She graduated from Columbia High School, Class of 1943 and Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing as an RN, Class of 1947. She was also enrolled in the US Cadet Nurse's Corps for war service, working at the VA Hospital in Chicago.
Sarah married Charles E. Barnett in 1947 and lived in Columbia, later moving to Washington Boro, where they raised six children. She worked at the former Columbia Hospital for a number of years while raising the children. Sarah would later come to care for her husband, who faced a serious kidney disease. She learned how to operate a kidney dialysis machine and twice a week had to set up and run this machine to purify his blood. Charles passed away in 1971. After his passing and with children still at home, Sarah got her driver's license and continued working. She worked for Dr. Melito Alejos an OB/GYN in Columbia.
Sarah was remarried in 1978 to the late Samuel McFalls. After she retired, they travelled quite a lot, enjoying many bus trips together. The family continued to grow, and Sarah loved having her family together for cookouts, holiday and birthday celebrations. Her family was very important to her. She enjoyed doing crafts, attending lots of graduations and weddings and playing all kinds of card and board games. Most recently at St. Anne's, she enjoyed her word search and games there. Sarah always had a willingness to care for friends and neighbors. She was a strong and courageous woman with a side of patience and love. She always had a sense of humor to make you smile.
Surviving are her children: Charles M. (Mary Ann) Barnett; David L. (Kathi) Barnett; John S. (Ninette) Barnett; Jeffrey L. (Sharon) Barnett; Sally A. (Michael) Miller and Linda S. (Gerald) Altland. Fourteen grandchildren. Forty-one great grandchildren. Four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and late husbands; two grandsons: Thom Barnett and Adam Miller. Eight brothers and four sisters. She was the last remaining sibling.
Sarah's family would like to thank the kind and hard-working staff of St. Anne's Retirement Community for the care given to our Mom through her years there. They were a blessing to her and to us. We would also like to thank Hospice and Community Care for their support and care.
The Memorial Service will be held at Washington Boro Church of God, 15 Rockfish Street, Washington Boro on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor David Johnson, officiating. Visitation from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Private interment in Silver Spring Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to: St. Anne's Retirement Community, 3952 Columbia Avenue, Columbia, PA 17512 or Hospice and Community Care, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125. Arrangements by the Workman Funeral Homes, Inc., Columbia/Mountville. To send an online condolence, visit the condolence page.