Roy S. Barr, 82, died on Sept. 8, 2012 in hospice care at Maris Grove in Glen Mills, Penn.
He and his beloved wife, Frances D. Barr, had moved to Maris Grove in 2008 from their longtime residence in Beaver, Penn. He had lived for 12 years after nearly dying from a stroke and heart attack in 1999. Roy leaves a legacy of courage, compassion, and strength for his family and many friends to strive to emulate.
Roy was born in Chicago, Ill., and his family moved to East Troy when Roy was starting high school. He starred in football, basketball and baseball and was elected class president. Long days working on his cousin’s dairy farm laid the foundation for a tremendous lifelong work ethic.
He put himself through Marquette University by working the night shift at factories in Milwaukee. Roy served two years in the Army during the Korean Conflict. While stationed at Fort Belvoir outside of Washington, D.C., he met Frances Donelan, who became the love of his life.
After his service, they married and returned to Chicago where he worked at Continental Can, started their family, and earned a master’s degree from Loyola University of Chicago. This started a 40-year career in human resources.
The family moved to Des Plains, Ill., Cincinnati, Ohio, Berkley Heights, N.J., Overland Park, Kan., Beaver, Penn., Avon, Conn., back to Beaver, Penn., and then to Glen Mills, Penn.
He was particularly proud of his tenure from 1970 through 1983 when he was vice president of industrial relations at the Crucible Steel Co. in Midland, Penn. While in Beaver County he was co-chairman of the United Way, president of the Beaver County Manufacturers Association, active in Catholic Charities, involved in the development of the Beaver County Vo-Tech School and Community College of Beaver County programs. He was selected as the commencement speaker for the CCBC in 1980.
After retirement he was “Executive in Residence” for seven years at Elms College (Frances’ alma mater), Chicopee, Mass. He was a teacher in their Business Administration Department and worked on projects in several departments.
He was also active in community affairs, serving as president of the “Friends of Hill-Stead Museum,” Farmington, Conn., on the Board of the Farmington, Conn. Visiting Nurses Association and as chairman of a Job Search program in Connecticut.
He and Frances shared a great love during their 58 years together. They enjoyed taking their grandchild for trips around the eastern United States and Western Europe. Roy treated his entire family to the “birthday of a life time” in Italy for his 70th birthday. An avid student of history with remarkable interpersonal skills, Roy was genuinely interested in everyone he met. After retirement, he helped hundreds of individuals, from all walks of life, to better understand themselves and their potential.
Roy and Frances enjoyed their years at Maris Grove and the many friends they made there. The entire Barr family is grateful for the support and care Roy received at the Crozier-Chester Medical Center, Riddle Memorial Hospital, and the Renaissance Garden Care Facility at Maris Grove.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Frances D. Barr; son, Stephen Barr of Wallingford, Penn., his wife, Diane, daughter, Rachael, and son, James; son, Christopher Barr of Washington D.C., his wife, Patricia Jayne, son, Phillip, and daughter Judith; son, Thomas Barr of Williamsburg, Va., his wife, Virginia, sons, David and James, and daughter, Sarah; and daughter, Therese Schrecengost of Avon, Conn., her husband, Robert, sons, Adam and Henry, and daughters, Julia and Anna.
He was preceded in death by his father Alonzo Barr, mother Edna Barr, sister Dorothy Barr, brother Joseph Barr, and twin brother Robert Barr.
A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, Sept. 12 at St. John Chrysostom Church, Wallingford, Penn. Interment will take place at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested memorials to Elms College Foundation, Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee, MA 01013-2839 or Hope Partnership for Education, 1701 N. 8th St., Philadelphia, PA 19122-2807.
Carr Funeral Home, 935 S. Providence Road, Wallingford, Penn., assisted the family.
For online guest registry, visit www.carrfuneralhome.net.
Roy and I served in the same Army unit during the Korean War. I arranged the “blind date” with Fran that led to their beautiful marriage. When our Christmas card was returned as “undeliverable”, I was worried that something had happened to one or the other. I was saddened to learn of Roy’s death. I had always looked up to him as an honorable, pleasant, and solid Christian. He was a strong player on our Headquarters Company football team that won the Ft. Belvoir post championship in 1953 or ’54. I have nothing but positive memories of Roy and regret only that my wife & I did not live closer to Roy & Fran so that we could have seen one another more often. Bill Klett