Margaret Barr Kulp died at home on June 20 surrounded by loving family, following a brave battle with lung cancer. Born in Louisville, Ky. in 1931, Margaret was an extraordinary force of nature and a beloved mother, wife, grandmother, and friend. She was the daughter of John McFerran Barr (Louisville) and Anita Carrington Barr (New Haven, Conn.).
A graduate of the Louisville Collegiate School and Bennett Junior College, she was an eager student of history, music and art. She was delighted by the beauty of the world and embraced every opportunity to travel to interesting places and learn new things. An avid lover of plants and gardening, Margaret was one of Sheila McQueen’s loyal “flower ladies” and shared her encyclopedic knowledge of horticulture with many aspiring gardeners. Evidence of her amazing green thumb is on glorious display in her Louisville garden and at “The Shack” in South Bristol. A talented floral arranger, speaker, and demonstrator, she disseminated her professional expertise through her floral design business, Wild Holly Studios. Margaret began the garden at Locust Grove, tended the gardens at Farmington for many years, and received numerous awards from the Glenview Garden Club over the past four decades, including the 2011 Medal of Merit. Among Margaret’s happiest professional days were those spent at Dickey Studios, and her discerning eye and skill with the camera lasted her entire life. Her love of cooking was inspired by her time as a teaching assistant to Louisville chef and cookbook author Camille Glenn. A classical music enthusiast, she studied with Fletcher Smith at the University of Louisville School of Music, sang soprano in the church choir, and was a member of the Louisville Bach Society chorus for many years.
Margaret generously shared her time, talent, and treasure with the Glenview Garden Club, The Garden Conservancy, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Louisville Children’s Theater (Stage One), the National Society of the Colonial Dames, Speed Museum Charter Collectors, and Historic Homes Foundation. In addition to being a founding board member of Yew Dell Gardens, she served on many other boards, including the Louisville Bach Society, Boston Early Music Festival, Speed Art Museum, Filson Historical Society, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Bernheim Arboretum, Olmstead Parks Conservancy, Whitehall Historic Home, and American Horticultural Society. Margaret also served on the vestry of St. Francis in the Fields and Calvary Episcopal Church and was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Louisville and St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Newcastle.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by siblings Anita Barr Watkins and John Watson Barr.
Surviving family include husband, Robert E. Kulp Jr.; sister-in-law, Mary Louise Barr; daughters, Anita Streeter, Carol Barr Matton and Barbara Bushong; and grandchildren, Rosalind and Margaret Streeter, Patton, Mackie, and Wick Bushong, Ian Gordon and Preston Schottlaender.
Visitation 4-7 p.m., Thurs., June 23 at Garden Court, 1044 Alta Vista Rd., Louisville, Ky. Memorial service celebrating Margaret’s life 11 a.m., Fri., June 24 at Calvary Episcopal Church, Louisville, Ky. following a private interment at Cave Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Yew Dell Gardens, P.O. Box 1334, Crestwood, KY 40014; Calvary Episcopal Church Music Fund, 821 South 4th St., Louisville, KY 40203-2191; and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, P.O. Box 234, Boothbay, ME 04537.
