Jerry Dean Barlow, O.D, Phd was born on August 27, 1932, in Salina, KS, where he grew up and graduated from Salina High School. Jerry passed away on February 16, 2022, in Baton Rouge, LA. He attended Kansas Wesleyan University before moving to further his training at Southern College of Optometry. After completing his tour of duty as a military optometrist stationed at both Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas and the US Army Hospital at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana, Jerry moved to Baton Rouge sight unseen and practiced as a licensed Doctor of Optometry within the Baton Rouge area for many years. He went back to college at the age of 32 while maintaining his optometric practice to earn a PhD in Psychology and practiced psychology for many years as well. Many Baton Rougeons came in contact with Dr. Barlow through his shared partnership of the Baton Rouge Reading Clinic, which was one of the earliest learning centers offering tutoring and time management skills for children as well as assessment evaluations in Baton Rouge. His education includes pre-med at Kansas Wesleyan University, a Bachelor of Science Degree, a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology and PhD in Psychology from Louisiana State University and a Doctorate of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee where he graduated Valedictorian of the summer 1955 class. Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Cami, three sons and daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren: Richard Kelly Mertens, Jr. (Jenice), Patrick Neal Barlow (McKenzie), and Eric Christopher Doherty (Brittani): Nikki M. Valois (D.J.), Brett Mertens (Amberly), Shelby Mertens, Samuel Christopher-Dean Doherty and Lena Poppi-Anne Doherty; and Aislyn Mertens, Becket Mertens, and Klohe Valois. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Evelyn Bochow and three nephews of Tyler, TX. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Fred Bochow and Maude Decker, his older brother, Carl E. Bochow of Tyler, TX and Jerry's former wife Sue Barlow with whom he partnered at The Baton Rouge Reading Clinic for many years. A visitation for Jerry will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East (11000 Florida Blvd) on Saturday, February 19th, at 11 am, followed by service at 1. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jerry’s name to a Parkinson’s disease association.
