Barbara Anne Rodenhiser Rankin

Barbara Anne Rodenhiser Rankin, 79, of Boonsboro, MD, passed away August 28, 2026, at Doey’s House in Hagerstown, MD.

Born on July 24, 1947, she was the only child of Malcolm Kenneth Maddran and Anne Marie Maddran. A live-long Boonsboro resident, she was a true fixture in the town. Barbara was a member of the 1965 graduating class of Boonsboro High School where she served as co-captain of the cheer squad. After attending fashion school in Baltimore in the late 1960s, she returned to Boonsboro where she worked as a hostess at the Old South Mountain Inn before landing the job of Boonsboro Town Clerk and Tax Collector which she held for 35 years before retiring in 2013. She was known for her no-nonsense work ethic, but also for her love of Halloween and cats – several of which she let come into the Town Hall and into her home.

In addition to her full-time job, Barbara spent much of her life volunteering and helping others. At St. James Catholic Church, Barbara was one of the organists for the parish both during high-school and then again in the 1980s. She served as a volunteer EMT with the Boonsboro Rescue company in the early 1980s during which her most memorable experience was helping a woman give birth. Her love of books led her to serve on the Boonsboro Library Board for many years. She was a member of the Friends of the Washington Monument which was responsible for the lighting around the memorial.

Barbara was strong, resilient, compassionate, and never afraid to speak her mind. Her greatest legacy will always be the people she loved and the lives she touched. As a single parent, she was dedicated to her daughter. Whether it was sharing her love of books and cats, volunteering as a member of the Band Boosters, helping her with her homework, sacrificing to put her through college, or teaching her to never settle for anything in life.

In 2006, Barbara found her soulmate in Terry Rankin. Together, they spent the next 20 years traveling, laughing, and sharing their love. This took them to Ocean City, NASCAR races, the Little League World Series, Ireland, Alaska, and Roatan to name a few places. It was normal for them to see a story about a diner on TV and then drive three hours to check it out.

Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Terry, her daughter Mary Anne McKown (Ken), granddaughter Emily, and stepdaughter Lindsey Rankin (Kayla) and numerous friends, colleagues, and people whose lives she touched throughout her remarkable journey.

A family will host a Celebration of Life at Bast-Stauffer Funeral Home at 7606 Old National Pike, Boonsboro, MD on Thursday, September 24th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM with sharing of memories beginning at 6:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making donations to the ASPCA or Washington County Hospice, in Barbara’s memory.

Rest peacefully. You were loved beyond words, and you will be missed beyond measure.