Alma Buscombe, born August 6, 1938, at St. John's Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully at home on December 5, 2024. Alma grew up in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and later developed a lifelong love of community and adventure.

Alma has a son and daughter from her late husband Jim Barkman; John Barkman, an architect in London, UK, and Dr. Julia Ward, a physician who lives in Houston, Texas with husband Dr. John Ward. Also, she has five grandchildren, McKenzie, Sydney, Madison, Ramsay, and Cameron. Alma's husband, Gary, a Journalism graduate, grew up and worked in southern  California, where he later met and married Alma in Whittier in 1984.

Alma knew no strangers; she was always a possibility-thinker and "can-do" person, filled with self-confidence. Her personal passions were family, gardening, quilting, her  neighborhood, singing, reading, solo flying, cooking, piano playing, decorating, and friendships.  She had a varied career including being a  saleswoman, teacher, newspaper co-publisher, and, of course, mother.

They shared many high adventures together as leaders of a coed Explorer post of scouting. Rock climbing, sailing, bicycling, soaring, whitewater rafting, flying, running, and backpacking were enjoyed by the teenagers as well as Alma and Gary. They both liked traveling and have visited Alaska, Japan, England, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Holland, Hawaii, and Portugal.

In 2000, Alma and Gary moved to Oklahoma, where they purchased and published the Inola Independent weekly newspaper. Alma loved sharing stories, selling ads, and connecting with her community through their work.

She is survived by sisters Margie Lingo of Sand Springs and Dorothy Plouch of Cape Canaveral, Florida, as well as many nieces and nephews in Sand Springs and Tulsa, and other nearby states. Alma's memorial service will be December 18 at 1 pm at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa.