Posted on 11/19/2012 8:38:45 AM PST by DollyCali
Bill at the first Honor Flight out of Akron. He was delighted to chat with Bob Dole.
At a Walter Reed Freep - with Bert, Kristinn.
He really enjoyed the WH correspondent dinner FReep & time afterward in hotel lounge
He may have been old.. but he wasn't stupid!!!!
A gentle and kind man has returned to his maker. He was a patriot, FReeper, WW2 Army/AF veteran who received the Bronze Star, and very very young at heart. He buried two wifes to Breast Cancer & himself struggled with prostrate cancer and was involved with me in the Prostate Cancer support group(I was facilitator). He served on various groups in Hudson Ohio in think tanks, music groups and Western Reserve Academy.
His last couple of years were spent in a group home & he was sadly removed from the support group of friends, clubs, activities and surroundings he enjoyed for over 40 years. He was still driving but there in NJ was very little he had interest in viewing or exploring - alone. In Ohio, he was on the go continually and busied himself at church, singles dances, New Orleans Jazz events, hiking, beaching, movies, dining out, organizations, Tea Party groups, GOP clubs for starters.
I have a few links that I was able to find that you might find enjoyable to browse. He attended several FReeps in DC, countless in Ohio(esp during pre election times) and as this is a tribute thread I want to give my tributes to a dear friend whom I will miss. We chatted on phone several times a week & emailed daily.
He enjoyed the various forums and Facebook but his VERY OLD computer and lack of skills to navigate, yet alone sign in with password to the sites was problematic. He was the only one in his group home with a computer & no help was available.
Bill and I were involved with a Christian church that was very contemporary. It met at a movie theater & had rap, hip hop, rock music. The preacher was solid & biblically accurate. In the course of the time thre Bill was in one of the videos.. Rockin' Bill!
83 year old FReeper/WW2 vet/bronze star - MAKES THE ROCK SCENE
Here is a thread where he was at Bethesda FReeping Fred Phelps (AKA - the creep)
Fred Phelps FReeped at Bethesda Naval Hospital
He posted only one thread here at FR & it was an accident. The Viking kitties were circling their prey as I was alerted & helped set things straight. He thought he was replying to a thread but instead started his own... It was comical (to me).
He Loved the Walter Reed FReeps. Here is a thread with some pix of one he attended.
FReep 54 at Walter Reed, April 28 (Heavy graphics, Join us Cinco de Mayo!
For the Finest a few years ago I did a tribute to WW2 and include both Bill & FReeper Bevlar(Larry).
A Few of FR's Finest..Every Day..02-6,7-07..WW2: The War, The Era, The Monument, The FReeper Vets
I have a lot of video & photos that I have on both YouTube & Facebook. Here is my archives of pix from Facebook - many FReepers in the pix along the way.
My Buddy Bill
There are more threads & links but this is all I have the energy to now research.
It’s so hard to lose a long-time friend. You have my deepest sympathy, RIP Bill Barrows. Prayers up, and thank you for letting me know.
Pinging my list per your request, DollyCali.
I remember that visit very well. Ever since then we cook Corn on the grill just like NYTexan showed us. And I wear the lapel pin you gave me very proudly, people really like it.
I told Dolly on FB that I had just been looking at some of these old pics the day before Bill went home to be with the Lord. Must have meant something I guess.
RIP Bill.
Prayers up for a true patriot and his family.
RIP.
It was a great visit! He is a great guy!
What a loss, Dolly, for you, for FR, and for the USA. God Bless Bill and all his buddies who now rest in the arms of the Lord.
We remember the visit...the fun, the food and your wonderful hospitality! Bill was an original, God rest his soul!
I’m glad you enjoy wearing your pin. That makes me proud! :)
Thanks for the ping. I met Bill at TheMayor’s home one year with NYTexan and my hubby, Mr. LUV, and Dolly. Such a sweet guy!
Tnx, Dolly
RIP, Sir. Well done. Blessings!
RIP Patriot Bill!
If there is ever a reason to use my ping list one last time, this is it. A Ping for a FReeper who has taken that one way journey home to his Father in Heaven.A FReeper that was awarded the Bronze Star in WW2 while fighting in the European Theater to bring down one of Obama's many roll models. He lived a long life that was full of love, and friends.
He is now with Christ, and in the presence of God.
When you think about it, he grew up at a time when the country was struggling through the depression. Then he joined the military to help defeat evil. He came home and did what most of his generation did, build this nation into the most powerful, prosperous country in the history of the world.
Bill grew up through the depths of Americas despair, and lasted the length of it's Zenith. It is only fitting the Lord took him home so he will not have to witness the final destruction of the country he gave so much for.
Sadly, in the last twenty years of Bill's life, he witnessed those who benefited the most from his generations hard work and sacrifice, willingly hand the country over to the very people he fought against in WW2.
We all thank you from the bottom of our heart, Wheelbarrow. Thanks for giving us a free country to grow up in. I just wish my generation would have done as good a job of defending it from all it's foreign and domestic enemies as yours did.
May the good Lord bless you with many rewards for your battle to free the least of His people who could not fight for themselves.
If there is ever a reason to use my ping list one last time, this is it. A Ping for a FReeper who has taken that one way journey home to his Father in Heaven.A FReeper that was awarded the Bronze Star in WW2 while fighting in the European Theater to bring down one of Obama's many roll models. He lived a long life that was full of love, and friends.
He is now with Christ, and in the presence of God.
When you think about it, he grew up at a time when the country was struggling through the depression. Then he joined the military to help defeat evil. He came home and did what most of his generation did, build this nation into the most powerful, prosperous country in the history of the world.
Bill grew up through the depths of Americas despair, and lasted the length of it's Zenith. It is only fitting the Lord took him home so he will not have to witness the final destruction of the country he gave so much for.
Sadly, in the last twenty years of Bill's life, he witnessed those who benefited the most from his generations hard work and sacrifice, willingly hand the country over to the very people he fought against in WW2.
We all thank you from the bottom of our heart, Wheelbarrow. Thanks for giving us a free country to grow up in. I just wish my generation would have done as good a job of defending it from all it's foreign and domestic enemies as yours did.
May the good Lord bless you with many rewards for your battle to free the least of His people who could not fight for themselves.
Oh, Dolly...Jim...all of us. I’m so sorry to read this.
Rest in peace, Bill. Thank you for the inspiration you always were to us.
BTTT
That is beautifully written. Thank you
Thanks Dave. He enjoyed the Heritage club meetings as did I. Then our bible studies began on Thursdays and we no longer attended due to conflict
Thanks M_B. Someone despite his computer difficulties here on earth, I think he knows about this ping!
Thanks Luv....that was such a nice outing in NY n
And you were on your way to more adventure at Niagara and Maine!
One heck of an obituary. A zest for life and lucky to have you for a friend to share it..
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