Barbara Ann Cummings, 84 of Augusta passed away on Sunday, April 14,2024.

She was born in Augusta, Maine on July 22, 1939, the daughter of Alexander H. and Lydia (Austin) Cummings.

Barbara attended Williams Grammar School and graduated from Cony High School in 1957.  She received her nursing diploma from Central Maine General Hospital (now, Central Maine Medical Center) in Lewiston, Maine in 1960.  In 1969 she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia with a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing.

After completing nursing school, Barbara worked at the Augusta State Hospital (now Riverview) until entering the Air Force Nurse Corps in 1962. After her retirement as Lieutenant Colonel in 1982, she worked for about 2 years at the Maine Veterans Home. In Augusta.

  Most of her military career was spent in the mental health field as both a staff nurse, head nurse and a head nurse at AF Medical Centers in Alaska, Florida, the Philippines, Texas, and Washington DC.  She also served as a senior instructor at the school of Health Care Sciences in Wichita Falls, Texas, and as the chief supervising nurse coordinator at Andrews AFB Medical Center in Washington DC. Additionally, she worked on an Aeromedical Staging Unit at Andrews AFB that received and stabilized casualties injured in Vietnam before airlifting them to other stateside medical facilities closer to their homes.

Barbara was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation, The Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, The National Defense Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Madal with 4 oak leaf clusters, the armed Forced Reserve Medal, the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, and the Chief Instructor Badge.

She was a life member of the Air Force Association, Military Officers Association of America and the National Association of Uniformed Services.  She was a charter member of the Society of Air Force Nurses, the Women’s Memorial Foundation, the Worl Warr II Veterans Committee and the National World War II Museum.

 Barbara was predeceased by her father Alexander, her mother Lydia, her sister Betty Jean Cummings, and a brother Keith Allen Cummings.

Survivors include nephew Ronald Keith Bechard of Augusta, niece Kimberly A (Bechard) Webber of Augusta, 3 much loved great-nephews Brandon Marshall Webber and his fiancé Sarah Bondarko of Monmouth, Dexter Mitchell Webber of Portland, and Patrick Austin Webber, of Monmouth, and her two wonderful and dear friends, cousin Keith Havner of Florida, and nephew Robert A. Webber of Augusta

 There will be no visitation hours.  A graveside service for family will be held at the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery in Augusta.

Arrangements are under the care of Kincer Funeral Home, 130 Pleasant St., Richmond, ME  04357