Born Sara Louise Boone on March 16, 1937, in West Columbia, SC, Sara was the eldest child of Lee Roy Boone, Sr. and Bernice Lybrand Boone. She graduated from Brooklyn Cayce High School and then entered nursing school at Columbia Hospital where she studied to become a Registered Nurse. She treasured many special friendships from High School and Nursing School for her entire life. Sara met Robert (Bob) Bollinger at a wedding of mutual friends, and in the due course of time, they married on December 5, 1959, and together they raised their three children in Lumberton, NC. They were married for 63 years until Bob's death on August 29, 2022.

Sara was a woman of many talents and enjoyed being a mom and homemaker. She was an amazing cook who loved sewing, quilting, and gardening among her many interests and talents. She loved music, especially if Doris Day or Elvis Presley were doing the singing. She played the piano quite well and enjoyed playing and singing hymns and songs from the American standard songbook such as "The Green, Green Grass of Home" and "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree with Anyone Else but Me." Sara was an active member of Saint Mark's Lutheran Church in Lumberton, NC, for over 60 years. She was called on to play the organ or piano for services on many occasions, taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, belonged to the Lutheran Church Women (LCW), and attended St Mark's faithfully—using her talents generously for her Savior and the Church she loved.

Sara was known for her joyful nature, compassion for others, and her contagious laugh. She made friends easily and she always saw the good in folks and loved them sincerely. Sara enjoyed gathering with her Ladies and Couples bridge clubs and those friendships were so wonderful having been forged over many decades. We love you all! Amongst the highlights of her life are her friendships of over 60 years with Ruth Read and Helen Eckhardt, and the late Marilyn Harmon Threewitts. The friendships between their families endure to this day and the memories of those good times are especially cherished by Sara's children. Sara worked for many years at Southeastern General Hospital in Lumberton where she worked in Pediatrics and later the IV Team. She was a talented and compassionate caregiver and the friends she made at Southeastern General were very special to her.

The family is so grateful to the staff at the Carrolton of Lumberton nursing home for their compassion and dedicated care for the last 2 years of her life. We also extend our gratitude to the family and friends who were able to visit, to call, and to send notes of encouragement to her and a special thank you to Deb Rosenberg, her pastor, for her friendship and faithfulness providing spiritual comfort that was so vital to mom's well-being. Sara passed away at the Carrolton of Lumberton on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, of complications from dementia, surrounded by family and friends who will hold her forever in their hearts.

Sara was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, her parents, her brother, Lee Roy Boone, Jr. and brother-in-law, Robert "Bob" Ray.

She is survived by her children: Joel Robert Bollinger (Todd Larsen, Michael Weiss) of Fieldbrook, CA, Lee Boone Bollinger (Yulanda Sturdivant Bollinger), of Fleetwood, NC, and Lauren Bollinger Jolly (Ken Jolly) of Cary, NC, as well as 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Martin Boone (Bill Geiger), of Ocala, FL, sister-in-law, Elizabeth Bollinger Ray, her nephew, Robbie Ray (Lumberton), her niece, Yvette Boone Douglas (Bill) of Arizona, and dear friend and Lauren's mother-in-law, Pete Booth (Ashley).

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 202 W. 24th St., Lumberton, NC 28358 for Sara and Bob.