- Date Of Birth: November 13, 1916
- Date Of Death: October 12, 2013
- State: New Jersey
Barber
John
On October 12, 2013 of Washington Twp. Age 96. Beloved husband of Marie. Devoted father of Madeleine and Ann Marie Barber. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Our dear beloved father enjoyed a long, fulfilling and happy life. He placed his family at the center of his life and he taught us the values of commitment, selflessness and accountability. In addition to being a dedicated and devoted husband and father he made himself available to neighbors and friends who often sought his expertise and advice and many topics even in his later years. He had an amazing work ethic that he passed on to his children and countless others who had the privilege to know him. He was a great conversationalist who truly enjoyed spending hours talking about anything from politics to sports and everything in between! He was a storyteller at heart with had a robust sense of humor who loved hearing and telling jokes and amusing anecdotes.
He was born in Narragansett, Rhode Island and was raised in Trinidad until he returned to Rhode Island as a young man. He served his country with honor during World War II in the Enlisted Reserve Corp of the U.S. Army and was described by his 1st lieutenant as a “man of excellent character”. Upon his return to Narragansett after his military service he apprenticed as an electrician. He quickly mastered his trade and his skills soon were in high-demand locally. He was later hired by the U.S. Navy as a marine electrician. During those years he travelled to various Naval Yards where he was responsible for analyzing the electrical technology on captured German U-boats and converting the electrical systems to American standards.
Following his work with the Navy he moved to Philadelphia in the early 1950s with his family and became a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98. He worked as a Master industrial electrician in and around the Philadelphia area for over 30 years and remained an active member of IBEW for 50 years. During his early years in Philadelphia he became a member of Saint Maron’s Parish in South Philly. He was a founding member and Vice President of the Parish’s Social Club that hosted various events and parties in support of the Church and Parish. He also travelled extensively to the Middle East and Europe during this time.
He met his beautiful wife Marie at a party in 1960 and they wed in 1962. The couple eventually moved from South Philadelphia to Overbrook Park where they raised their two daughters. He adored his family and enjoyed taking vacations to the Jersey shore or visiting relatives. He valued his friends and maintained life-long friendships with former neighbors and co-workers.
He took pride in the home that he provided for his family and spent years transforming the house into a beautiful show place admired by neighbors. His hard work and expertise inspired other homeowners in the area to make improvements on their houses. They often sought out his advice and my father generously offered his time, his tools and his knowledge in assisting his neighbors with their projects. He taught us by example by always making himself available to others and sharing his special talents and gifts with friends and neighbors.
After his retirement in 1983 he kept himself busy with continued home improvements as well as catching up with old friends for lunch at the neighborhood deli. Some of the activities he most enjoyed were celebrating special occasions at a fine restaurant, attending the occasional Phillies game and taking day trips to Amish Country, Ocean City and Peddlers Village just to name a few. He and my mother also travelled to Rhode Island, Boston and Virginia to attend parties and catch up with old friends and family. They also went on several Caribbean cruises with my aunt and uncle during the 1990s.
My parents moved to South Jersey in 2001 to be close to my sister and me. My father quickly became well known in the neighborhood and community as he continued to make enhancements on their new home even though he was well into his 80s! Just as before, neighbors young and old admired his skill and sought out his advice on home improvement projects. As his health declined his favorite pastime was watching Phillies games. He remained a devoted and dedicated Phillies fan and was overjoyed when they won the 1980 and 2008 World Series! He continued to enjoy visits from family and friends and the occasional opportunity to dine out to celebrate a birthday or holiday. He was thrilled when family and friends travelled to New Jersey in 2012 to attend my mother and his 50th wedding anniversary party!
We will always remember my father as a man who embodied the best attributes of the Greatest Generation: his love of family, his devout faith in God, his honorable service to his country and to others.
We will remember his smile and laughter; how much he loved us and took care of us; how strong he was both in body and in character; his amazing talents and skills. He was truly a blessing to us and to so many. We will miss him terribly but we will forever carry him in our hearts.
“A Life Well Lived
Is Worth Remembering”
