John Richard Barnard

John Richard Barnard joined his wife, Joyce, for their long awaited evening of scotch and soda, Saturday, April 28th.

John was born in Brooklyn, New York to second generation immigrants escaping the ever-increasing conflicts in Europe. In 1943, after finishing his education at New York University, he entered the Army Air Corp to help defend our nation during World War II.

In the Army Air Corp, he was a member of the Air Apaches, piloting the B-25, B-17 and 0A-10 aircraft in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. It was during this period a record was set by Air Apaches for the greatest damage to enemy shipping. Captain Barnard was decorated with a Silver Star, Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and a Presidential Citation.

After the war, John started his career in media, working with various magazines, television advertisers, and newspapers. He eventually became the managing editor of the Food, Wine, and Spirit section of the New York Post under the leadership of Rupert Murdock.

John and his wife Joyce retired and moved to her home state of Tennessee in 1987. John and Joyce immediately became Vol and Lady Vol fans and their wardrobe quickly turned orange and white with a hint of blue. In fact, John celebrated his birthday, every year, on the University of Tennessee’s opening football game.

John is predeceased by Joyce, his ever-loving wife of 52 years. He is survived by two sisters, Anita Rubin, known as his protector, of Florida, and Helene Bender of New York, and all of his children. One of the patriarchs of a blended family, John has 8 children, 9+ grandchildren, and 8+ great-grandchildren. They are: Karen Lichtman Rhodes of Florida, mother to Gregory with wife Brooke, and Jeremy; Doug Barnard of North Carolina with wife Dee; Phylis Baldwin of Tennessee with husband Larry, parents to Kristine and Scott with wife Allison - and Grandy to Collin and Makinzee; James Barnard of Florida; Cindy Kush of New Mexico with husband Tommy, parents to Evan; Philip Olin of North Carolina; and Scott Barnard of Ohio with wife Stephanie, parents to Steven. John would also like to recognize two special family-like friends, Hannah Warth and Guy Smoak plus wife Katy.

Thank you to all the staff from Park Place of West Knoxville and Life Care Center of Blount County.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Honor Air Knoxville to help other veterans, such as John, make a “last hurrah” trip to our nation’s capital, to visit their memorials, just like he did on flight #5 in 2009. Your contribution be made online at HonorAirKnoxville.com or mailed to 7536 Taggart Lane, Knoxville, TN 37938.

"Peace be with you."

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 1:00 pm in the Sherwood Chapel, Alcoa Highway, Alcoa, TN, with Guy Smoak, officiating. Please visit www.sherwoodchapel.net to leave condolences for the family.