Mr. Grover C. Barry Jr. passed away on 27 October 2013 following an extended illness. Mr. Barry was born 20 June 1927 in Leesburg, Florida. He was the son of Grover C. Barry Sr. and Eunice Mary Robarts the 5th born of six children.
Mr. Barry enlisted in the US Army in 1944 and served with the 11th Airborne in the Pacific Theater. Following the war he transferred to the US Air Force in 1947 and was one of the original Pararescuemen now known as PJ’s. He was a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam serving his country until his retirement as a SMSGT in 1974. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, World War II Service ribbon, Korean Service ribbon and the Vietnam Service Ribbon. He was a Master Parachutist and Air Crew Member.
Following his retirement from the military he was a heating, refrigeration and air conditioning technician at the University of Florida for over twenty years. He was a life time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was the long time Chaplain for VFW Post 2811 and provided much comfort to hospitalized and ailing veterans throughout Alachua County. He enjoyed spending his summers in upstate NY at his cabin on Glen Lake located in the Adirondack Mountains. He was extremely proud of his country and in particular those who served in the military. He routinely donated his cabin for use by returning soldiers and their families.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Anita M. Barry and is survived by a son Kerry (Catherine) Barry, Daughters Sherry (Clyde) Luna, and Terry (Eddie) Velazquez, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren as part of his lasting legacy.
Funeral Services for Mr. Barry will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 12:00 Noon, at Forest Meadows Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends on Friday at the Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a vigil prayer service being said at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Barry will be buried with full military honors at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell FL, on Monday, November 4, 2013.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests all donations be directed to the Fisher House Foundation that provides housing and support to families of hospitalized military members and veterans they can be reached at: http://www.fisherhouse.org/ 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, Maryland 20850
Terry and Family:
May our Lord comfort you and your loved ones at this time of sorrow with the knowledge that one day He will bring us all back together for eternity!!
Love and Blessings to you,
Donna
Sorry mike!
We miss you Grover! A real gentleman and a true patriot. I’ll always remember your morning wave as I went to work and you were out walking Henry. I’m sure you are in heaven now, reunited with loved ones. May God bless and comfort your family.
Sandy
I am so sorry to hear about his passing, it was an honor and a pleasure to be able to consider him family. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
Mark A Watson
I GOT TO KNOW GCB WHEN I WORKED AT IFAS.WHEN A IFAS VEH.NEEDED TO HAVE THEIR SEATS REPAIRED/REPLACED I WAS THE ONE TO TAKE THE VEH. TO L+S UPH. REPAIR.ONE DAY BARRY NEEDED TO HAVE HIS SEAT REPLACED ON HIS VEH.WHEN I TOOK HIS VEH. L+S WAS VERY SHORT OF MATERIALS TO COVER SEATS. IT SEEMS THE ONLY COLORS THEY HAD AT THAT TIME WERE ORANGE AND BLUE.SO HE GOT O+B COVERED SEATS.WHEN I BROUGH HIS VEH.BACK TO THE COMPOUND HIS VEH. WAS MODIFIED AGAIN.HE GOT O+B HUBCAPS AND SEVERAL GATOR BUMMPER STICKERS.YOU GOT TO REMEMBER HE WORKED WITH 40 PEOPLE OF WHICH 38 WERE GATORS WITH ONE GEORGA FAN AND MR. HARD CORE BARRY BEING A FSU SUPER FAN.GOOD THING HE HAD A SENCE OF HUMOR OR HE WOULD NOT LASTED VERY LONG AT IFAS.GOOD BY GOOD BUDDY.FSU IS HAVING A GREAT YEAR.2P4P6PAND A $STAND UP AND HOLLOR.GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGATORSSSSSSSSSSS