About First United Methodist Church of Lompoc

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Administrative Assistant

Our Administrative Assistant, Barbara Walsh, is a California native from Carpinteria,  Barbara loves the outdoors, sunshine, and the Pacific Ocean.  After graduating Carpinteria High School and attending Santa Barbara City College, she relocated to Old Saybrook, Connecticut for six years where she enjoyed the four seasons of New England and the East Coast culture.  Returning to California, Barbara began legal studies and worked for 13 years at Hollister & Brace, a law firm located in Santa Barbara and Los Olivos.  Barbara was especially close to her parents, Robert & Nita Parker, who managed the Gaviota General Store at Gaviota State Beach from 1982 to 1991.  Barbara’s parents also started the original Lompoc Swap Meet in 1989 on So. I Street, which was a Lompoc favorite event until it closed in 2006.  Barbara is happiest with her family which includes her son Justin, daughter-in-law Tara, granddaughter Trin-Trin, niece Kelsie and nephews Chris, Eric and Nicholas and her life-long friend, Dale.  She enjoys hiking around Gaviota and is passionate about preserving that part of the coastline.  Hobbies are photography, writing, hard puzzles, and Chess.  Barbara is also a California Literacy Tutor through the Lompoc Library.  Favorite Trips:  101 to Washington State and just about any long road trip with a good book.  Favorite Places:  Todos Santos, Baja; Kenai, Alaska; and the Pt. Reyes Seashore.  Favorite Book:  Too many to count, but the Chicago Manual of Style is always fun.  Idea of Fun:  Shakespeare studies at AHC.

Church Accountant

Lynda is our church accountant, has been with First United Methodist Church of Lompoc since 2009, and has quite a history. Lynda was born and raised in North Carolina and is half Lumbee and German, in which she is very proud (The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is the largest tribe in the state and east of the Mississippi River.) Lynda comes from quite a large family of 17 children and describes her childhood with fond memories. Later, in 1974, when Lynda's brother invited her and her small children to come to California, she quite liked the west coast and decided to make it her home. Lynda has a strong background in accounting and made a career working for some of the largest developers on the Central Coast. A dedicated and devoted Christian woman, Lynda is always helping others, volunteering at our church, is a member of our Leadership Team, volunteered at Master Chorale as the bookkeeper, taught Sunday school here with us, volunteers for our Feed The Hungry program helping with cooking, delivering and serving food to those in need. Lynda has been with us for so long, when we are putting up holiday decorations, she is the one to ask where is this or where is that... she, along with other long-time volunteers, knows just about every nook and cranny of our buildings. Lynda is also part of the Fellowship Time Kitchen volunteers, buying food, presenting it on Sundays, putting it away, cleaning up and helping out. When the office needs additional help or has questions, it's Lynda who we turn to. And Lynda is not just busy with us. Her and her husband George own a little coin shop in Santa Maria, which they love and enjoy. 

We see Lynda every Sunday as she helps some others to get to their seats, brings them a blanket and sits close in order to be of help. We also love when her now grown children with families of their own visit too and also volunteer! If the church needs anything, Lynda is always there, washing blankets, putting out seasonal decorations, and is available to anyone who might need a hand. Lynda is endeared to us all with her big heart and humble spirit and we are so lucky she chose us to be friends with all these years.

Director of Music

Kathleen joined the staff at First United Methodist Church of Lompoc in April 2016. As Director of Music, she provides organ and piano music for all of the worship services, directs and accompanies the Chancel Choir and collaborates with soloists and instrumentalists to provide special music throughout the year.  Kathleen brings to this position a broad musical experience of more than 40 years as a choral conductor, organist, pianist, mezzo soprano soloist, trumpet player and music educator and feels extremely blessed to have the opportunity to inspire others to praise God through music.

A native Californian, she grew up in the Los Angeles suburb of El Monte and received her bachelor of music degree in voice and music education from California State University, Fullerton with advanced studies in choral conducting and vocal pedagogy.  Currently, Kathleen also serves as Director of the Lompoc Valley Master Chorale, provides music workshops for schools in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties through Children’s Creative Project and maintains a private vocal and piano studio.  When she is not working, Kathleen loves spending time outdoors enjoying the beautiful Central Coast. Kathleen and her husband Tommy reside in Lompoc and have four grown children.