LT. COL. JOHN E. BARROW
Sept. 10, 1929-March 15, 2011
Retired Lt. Col. John E. Barrow "Ed" died March 15, 2011, at Wayne Memorial Hospital. He was surrounded by his wife and family.
Ed was born in Jones County Sept. 10, 1929, to the late Mr. and Mrs. John M. Barrow of Pollocksville, N.C.
Ed graduated from East Carolina University with a business degree, along with earning a commission as a second lieutenant. Ed loved his years in the military and the friends he made in places all over the world: Phoenix, Ariz., Ipswich, England, Alamagordo, N.M., and Hahn, Germany.
Ed served his country courageously in Korea from 1953 until 1955, and in Vietnam from 1966 until 1967.
He flew many different types of planes during his career: The F86 Sabre, the F-100 and the F101 Voodoo. While serving in Vietnam, he flew the F-4 Phantom.
He was shot down while flying night missions out of Thailand. After his plane was hit, he managed to fly his plane to safety over water, where he then ejected from the plane and was rescued hours later by a helicopter from the U.S.S. Kearsage.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and the Purple Heart for his bravery and service. Ed retired from the Air Force after flying 65 combat missions, 5,700 flying hours and 20 years of service.
After retiring from the Air Force, he went into the real estate field, where he was very active until the last five years.
He was a member of New Hope Friends Church, where he greatly enjoyed the fellowship with everyone there.
He also enjoyed his weekly lunches and lively conversation with all his friends. Ed will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary; his son John Jr.; daughter, Mary Beth, her husband, Scott, and grandson, Jake, of Horseheads, N.Y.; and his sisters, Martha Ann Lentz of Rockford, Ohio, and Ellen Meadows of Pollocksville, N.C.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 18, 2011, at New Hope Friends Church on U.S. 70 East, Goldsboro, from 7 to 8 p.m., with Bill Garner officiating.
The family will receive friends at the church from 6 to 7 p.m. Entombment will be at Wayne Memorial Park Saturday, March 19, 2011, at 11 a.m. with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ed's memory to New Hope Friends Church, 4451 U.S. 70 East, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 17, 2011 1:48 PM