Roger Barr
May 27, 1938 — June 28, 2014
Roger Barr, Sr. age 76 years of Niles, Michigan died at 6:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at his home, unexpectedly but of natural causes.
He was born on May 27, 1938 in Niles to Woodrow Peter and Marian Frances (Becker) Barr. He was graduated from Niles High School, and attended Western Michigan University. He has lived in Niles most of his life, except for five years in Iowa. He was employed at the former Tyler Refrigeration for more than forty years.
Roger attended Hope Community Church in Niles. He served in the United States Navy during peacetime. He volunteered with the Babe Ruth Baseball League in Niles, was a member of the Howard Township Lions Club, and played in the Tyler Golf League. In retirement, he was employed as a driver for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and was a winter resident of Bradenton, Florida where he enjoyed playing shuffleboard.
On June 29, 1957 at the First Baptist Church in Niles he married the former Winifred E. Tracey with whom he would have Sunday celebrated the fifty-seventh anniversary of their wedding.
Surviving family includes his wife, Winnie Barr and their children, Roger (& Jill) Barr, Jr. of Newton, Iowa, Ronald (& Laurie) Barr, Sr. of Osceola, Indiana, Laurie (& Brian) Meadows of Mason, Michigan, and Rick (& Barbara) Barr of Battle Creek, Michigan; grandchildren, Ron, Jr., Chris, Traci, Haley, Richard, Jr., Ashley, Katelyn, and Connor, and three great-grandchildren; and Roger’s sisters, Barbara Smith of Houston, Texas and Bev (& Dave) Downs, of Niles; Winnie’s brother, Hugh (& Nancy) Tracey of Vicksburg, Michigan; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Roger Barr will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at Hope Community Church in Niles with the Rev. Ron Smith, minister of visitation for Hope officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Navy Honor Guard.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Roger may be made to the American Diabetes Association.