- Date Of Birth: July 9, 1946
- Date Of Death: January 27, 2014
- State: Indiana
Barney was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma and grew up on a cattle ranch on the Osage Indian Reservation in north central Oklahoma. Shortly after high school, he was drafted but opted to join the Marine Corps. After completing officer’s school and earning his college degree, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and ordered to the Navy Flight School. Upon graduation he was designated a pilot in the CH-53 Sikorsky helicopter.
Over the next 22 years he was able to participate in many exciting, challenging missions and travel to many parts of the world including S.E. Asia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Norway, Africa and the Middle East. After his retirement from the Marine Corps, he met the love of his life, Gwen Finger, a native of South Bend. They married and moved to Jackson Hole, WY where Barney was elected twice to be the Mayor of Jackson Hole.
Barney’s parents, Frances and W. Baird Oldfield, his brother Lee Oldfield and his Father-in-law Tuggy Finger preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Gwen, brother Ladd (Sue) Oldfield, sister Amy (Wayne Ray Mitchell) Oldfield, Sister-in-law Robbie Oldfield, Mother-in-law Deloris Finger, brother-in-law Gary (Malia) Finger, nieces and nephews Sarah (Grant) Myers, Will Oldfield, Clara Cunningham, Jennifer (Kyle) Allen, and Zane Finger; also great-nieces and nephews Ryan, Allyssa, Emmett, Hailey, Whitney, Ashton and Emma.
Barney and Gwen moved to South Bend after Barney completed his second term as Mayor. Barney always said this was the best place he had ever lived and it’s because of the great friendships he made with family, neighbors and friends. His philosophy on life is: The more friendships you can develop the more places you can go and the more adventures you can have, the richer and fuller your life will be. Barney lived a rich, full life. 3545 N. 3545 N.
