Ray A. Barber

Ward Wilson Memory Hill Funeral Home Cemetery and Crematory

Viewed: 2340

Posted by: Ward Wilson
Date: Mar 19 2017 12:03 PM

Ward Wilson Memory Hill Funeral Home Cemetery and Crematory

2414 Hartford Highway

Dothan, Alabama 36305

334-792-4194

www.wardwilson.com

Ray A. Barber, a long-time resident of Dothan, passed away on March 18, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family.  He was 94.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 on Monday, March 20 at the Ward Wilson Chapel with Reverend Jeff Lunsford officiating.  Burial will follow in the Goodwater Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Wicksburg.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 at Ward Wilson Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to Goodwater Freewill Baptist Church where he was a member. 

Ray Arthur Barber was born on April 28, 1922 in Marion, Ohio to the late Lula and Reuben Barber.  In 1942 he graduated from Lincoln High School in Gahanna Ohio and after one year at Capital University joined the US Army Air Corp in 1943.  He underwent fighter pilot training in P-40’s at various locations starting with basic training in Greenwood SC, ground school at Due West SC, and flight training at Napier Field (Dothan AL) and Spence Field (Moultrie GA). In 1944 he chose to become a warrant officer and flight engineer on B29’s and trained in Amarillo TX and Alamagordo NM.  He witnessed the first test of the atomic bomb in the early morning hours in July 1945 while on a train returning from a three day pass.  He was given the opportunity and voluntarily discharged from the Army Air Corp in 1946.

After a brief stay in Columbus Ohio, he moved to Dothan, Alabama and began working with a contractor wiring residential homes.  He enrolled in the Electrical class at Wallace Technical College and soon after completing the class was offered the instructor position to teach the class.  He accepted the position and taught Electricity at George C. Wallace College and Technical School for 28 years from 1948 to 1984 preparing many students for employment in residential and commercial settings.  Many of the students whose lives he touched became life-long friends and continued the close relationship up until his passing.

He is survived by Norma, his wife of 50 years, two sons Ray N. Barber (Patti) and Randy Barber (Darlene) both of Tifton GA, and one daughter JoEllen Burke (Bo) of Marianna FL, a sister Carol Shover of Louisville, Kentucky, four grandsons - Ben Burke (Kara), Daniel Burke, Austin Barber (Cara), Jonathan Barber (Brittney), five granddaughters - Mandy White (Ben), Natalie Keadle (Walker), Sarah Barber, Lawson Barber, Maria Barber and seven great grandchildren.

He loved to fish, tell stories, play cards/board games, and spend time with friends and his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He was a friend to many and even into his 80’s would do anything to help family and friends. In these last few years, his life was enriched by family, his church, and the many friends and neighbors who frequently dropped by to visit or to help with tasks he could no longer do.

Serving as pallbearers are Ben Burke, Daniel Burke, Austin Barber, Jonathan Barber, Walker Keadle, and Ben White.

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