COLUMBUS
After years living courageously with a smile on her face despite many medical challenges, Sara Margaret Huntington, cherished sister, aunt and friend, passed away June 26th, 2025, at The Belmont in Columbus, Indiana.
Born March 9th, 1946, in Columbus, Sara is survived by her brother Larry Huntington and beloved nephews, nieces and friends that became like family to her.
She is predeceased by her parents, Juanita Wendel Huntington Dowling and Clayton Huntington, and her brother James.
After graduating from Columbus High School and attending Wittenberg University, Sara returned to Indiana and forged a path that created opportunities for her to help and assist many. She quickly found the calling that would occupy her for almost fifty years: social work. She worked as a counselor, organizer, leader and support for women in distress. Countless women who fled abusive relationships found shelter and safety through her counsel via her decades of work at Middle Way House in Bloomington. She often advised that a life-long career in social work could only be possible if one was capable of finding beauty and joy in the little things in life after those particularly heart-breaking days on the job.
The day before she died, she said, “Some of us aren’t here to be mothers,” and she was reminded that while mothers nurture and protect their children quite intensely, Sara had nurtured and protected almost everyone she had ever met. And half a dozen cats. She loved those cats. Her life’s work was, literally, a shelter. And outside of that, in her personal life, she encouraged curiosity and creativity in everyone she met. Her curiosity was deeply personal; she was a wonderful listener and she liked to make connections. In a sense, this showed itself in her love of British mysteries, but she was drawn to these by the beautiful countrysides and rich accents more than any interest in crime. She was open to the unknown and while she liked the feeling of solving a puzzle, she was equally happy looking out her window at the deer who came to eat her grass. She did not have to know where they came from or where they were going. Seeing them was luck enough.
On her last day, Sara expressed her love and appreciation for family and friends she had spent time with over the years – in Bloomington, on Wilton Avenue, as well as the other interesting people she met along her path in life.
A private committal service and memorial will be planned. Online condolences and special memories may be shared with family at barkesweaverglick.com
Memorial contributions can be made to Middle Way House, P.O. Box 95, Bloomington, Indiana, 47402 or via middlewayhouse.org.
