Obituary for Gary S. Barron
Gary S. Barron
The world lost an amazing human on Wednesday evening, April 10, 2019, as Gary S. Barron passed away suddenly to be with our Lord and Savior. Gary was born on August 11, 1956 in Clarksburg, WV, son of the late Dominick and Paquita Barron. He lived the majority of his life in Shinnston, WV, but also held residence in Phoenix, AZ and Bridgeport, WV. He traveled in and outside of the country for work and for family. Gary is survived by his wife Paula of Bridgeport, WV; his daughter Jessica and husband Jonathan Seaver and their children Bryn Paquita, Jack Lawrence, and Emmett Harrison of Shrewsbury, MA; his son Nick and wife Marissa Barron and their children Chloe Ray and Hayes Nicole of Bridgeport, WV; his sister Linda Manna of Omaha, NE; his cousin David Menendez of Kansas City, MO; his father-in-law Paul H. Butler of Shinnston, WV; and several in-laws, nieces, and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his Aunts Lola Brignones and Anita Menendez, Uncle David Menendez, and Mother-in-law Virginia Butler.
Gary was an amazing man who filled many hearts and many roles during his lifetime. He was a sports enthusiast from a young age, playing football, basketball, baseball, and tennis for many years. He was a die-hard Cubs fan, something his late father, Dominick, instilled in him. He was a husband, fiercely dedicated and in love with his high-school sweetheart and wife of 40 years. He was a man of faith and wisdom; if you were lucky enough to have a conversation with Gary, no matter the length, you witnessed this. He was a father, one of the best. This was a role he prioritized and filled passionately until his final moments. He was a caretaker. For the majority of Gary’s life, he took care of others: other family members, strangers, friends. He took responsibility for the people he loved and interacted with through his time and actions. He was a dedicated employee. He devoted 25 years of his life to the Department of Justice where he was a mentor to so many. Gary was a gifted writer. He moved and inspired people with his words through columns and blogs – Positive Points was a favorite for many. In the recent years following his retirement, he held two of his most prized roles: a golfer and a Papi. He gave his grandchildren so much joy, and enough moments, presents, and laughter to hold on to for a lifetime. While the grandchildren napped, he golfed. It brought him immense happiness to spend time on the greens with his son, his son-in-law, and many friends, old and new. He was a friend. If you met Gary, you knew him. He was kind to anyone who crossed his path. A person who understood the difficulties in life and wanted to do whatever he could to help brighten the lives of others. He was so much to so many, making his sudden death near impossible to understand. We know if he were here, he would comfort us and encourage us to live as he did. Make the most of every moment. Love others through your words, your actions, and your life. Keep the faith, even in the darkest of moments, because there’s a lot of work to be done and a lot of life to be lived. In “Gary” fashion, he planned for everything, even his death; another action to express his love. One of his final wishes was to leave us with the poem below. His family and friends are eternally blessed to have been a part of his journey and will continue to honor him through living life to the fullest...just like Papi.
Death is Nothing at All
By Henry Scott-Holland
Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to be made to New England Center for Children, c/o Jessica Seaver, 33 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772-2108, or at www.necc.org.
According to his wishes – and plans – he will be cremated and his remains will wait to be joined with those of his wife upon her passing.
Friends and family can join in celebrating Gary’s life together during the following calling hours at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport, on Sunday from 12 Noon – 6 p.m., where the service will be held at 6 p.m. with Pastor Eric Miker presiding.
The world lost an amazing human on Wednesday evening, April 10, 2019, as Gary S. Barron passed away suddenly to be with our Lord and Savior. Gary was born on August 11, 1956 in Clarksburg, WV, son of the late Dominick and Paquita Barron. He lived the majority of his life in Shinnston, WV, but also held residence in Phoenix, AZ and Bridgeport, WV. He traveled in and outside of the country for work and for family. Gary is survived by his wife Paula of Bridgeport, WV; his daughter Jessica and husband Jonathan Seaver and their children Bryn Paquita, Jack Lawrence, and Emmett Harrison of Shrewsbury, MA; his son Nick and wife Marissa Barron and their children Chloe Ray and Hayes Nicole of Bridgeport, WV; his sister Linda Manna of Omaha, NE; his cousin David Menendez of Kansas City, MO; his father-in-law Paul H. Butler of Shinnston, WV; and several in-laws, nieces, and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his Aunts Lola Brignones and Anita Menendez, Uncle David Menendez, and Mother-in-law Virginia Butler.
Gary was an amazing man who filled many hearts and many roles during his lifetime. He was a sports enthusiast from a young age, playing football, basketball, baseball, and tennis for many years. He was a die-hard Cubs fan, something his late father, Dominick, instilled in him. He was a husband, fiercely dedicated and in love with his high-school sweetheart and wife of 40 years. He was a man of faith and wisdom; if you were lucky enough to have a conversation with Gary, no matter the length, you witnessed this. He was a father, one of the best. This was a role he prioritized and filled passionately until his final moments. He was a caretaker. For the majority of Gary’s life, he took care of others: other family members, strangers, friends. He took responsibility for the people he loved and interacted with through his time and actions. He was a dedicated employee. He devoted 25 years of his life to the Department of Justice where he was a mentor to so many. Gary was a gifted writer. He moved and inspired people with his words through columns and blogs – Positive Points was a favorite for many. In the recent years following his retirement, he held two of his most prized roles: a golfer and a Papi. He gave his grandchildren so much joy, and enough moments, presents, and laughter to hold on to for a lifetime. While the grandchildren napped, he golfed. It brought him immense happiness to spend time on the greens with his son, his son-in-law, and many friends, old and new. He was a friend. If you met Gary, you knew him. He was kind to anyone who crossed his path. A person who understood the difficulties in life and wanted to do whatever he could to help brighten the lives of others. He was so much to so many, making his sudden death near impossible to understand. We know if he were here, he would comfort us and encourage us to live as he did. Make the most of every moment. Love others through your words, your actions, and your life. Keep the faith, even in the darkest of moments, because there’s a lot of work to be done and a lot of life to be lived. In “Gary” fashion, he planned for everything, even his death; another action to express his love. One of his final wishes was to leave us with the poem below. His family and friends are eternally blessed to have been a part of his journey and will continue to honor him through living life to the fullest...just like Papi.
Death is Nothing at All
By Henry Scott-Holland
Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to be made to New England Center for Children, c/o Jessica Seaver, 33 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772-2108, or at www.necc.org.
According to his wishes – and plans – he will be cremated and his remains will wait to be joined with those of his wife upon her passing.
Friends and family can join in celebrating Gary’s life together during the following calling hours at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport, on Sunday from 12 Noon – 6 p.m., where the service will be held at 6 p.m. with Pastor Eric Miker presiding.