Don Barlow, Jr. on Don Sr.

Dear Friends,
 

My dad died this morning from cancer at the age of 76. Just two months ago, he was charging up the Great Wall of China. Just 30 days ago, he was walking 2-4 miles a day and was in seemingly perfect health. We're still in shock over the fact that a man who was so active and healthy could be taken from us so quickly.

I know some of you have already lost a parent or both of your parents. I now truly understand the depth of your pain. May God bless and keep the ones you've lost.

We all grieve differently. As for me, I'm feeling an overwhelming need to tell the world just how great a person my dad was in his lifetime. It's simply about acknowledging and celebrating a life richly-lived by the man I admire most -- my Dad. So humor me a few lines and a few pictures so you can know him better and help me honor is life.


If you really knew my dad, you'd know that...

- He loved and totally adored my mom, Roberta, more than anything in life. They lived, loved, laughed and cried their way through their marriage vows over a rich and wonderful 53 years together.

- My sisters, Kathy & Karen and I knew how much he loved us as well. He was our truest example on the measure of a man, husband, father, grand father and friend. We're going to miss his enormous presence in our lives and his infectious laugh.

- He loved West Point. He was an accomplished collegiate cross country runner while there and graduated in 1957.

- He loved Army football even more. He and mom tripped up to West Point most falls in their RV so he could root on the Army team over a number of home games.

- He loved serving his country. His 29 years in the Army proved to be a great adventure for our family as we lived in numerous places abroad and throughout the US.

- He rose to the rank of Colonel through his career, was an Airborne Ranger, served in the Special Forces and was a highly decorated combat veteran from Vietnam. You'd never know any of this from talking with him because he'd spend all of your time getting to know you!

- Upon leaving active duty, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Revenue for the State of North Carolina for 11 years.

- He never missed a single day of work due to illness in his 40 years of earning a pay check.

- For the past 14 years, he and my mom have constantly traveled the world by planes, trains and automobiles and throughout the US in their RV. They most recently returned from six weeks in Vietnam and China. He loved revisiting Vietnam and sharing war stories with some of his Vietcong war-fighting brethren.

- He was a bit of a 'Rain Man' when it came to remembering dates, places and scores of Army football games; his phenomenal memory served him right up to the end, much to the amazement of everyone.

- My dad had an insatiable love of life, family and friends. He was due to be out here in Colorado in August then up to West Point for some football this fall before heading back to Europe. Just another year in the great adventure of his life. His bucket list was bottomless.


My dad faced his cancer just as he faced any challenge in his life -- with strength, courage, grace, compassion for others and an unyielding sense of humor. His family was with him around-the-clock through his final days; we're extremely thankful to have had this time with him and nothing went unsaid. We were overwhelmed by the number of doctors and nurses at Duke Hospital who came in on their days off just to spend time with their favorite patient. My dad just had that kind of an impact on people.

Later this month, we'll be traveling up to West Point so he can rejoin the ranks of the Long Grey Line which has preceded him into the Kingdom of Heaven. May this great man I'm so proud to call my dad rest in peace.

Thanks for taking the time to know him better, and in helping me celebrate his wonderful life!

Regards,
Don Jr.