Barney Westmoreland Jr.

passed away Monday, Dec. 8, 2015. He was preceded

in death by his parents, Barney and Annie

Westmoreland, and five sisters, Billie Ponder, Julia

Bain, Cindy Watson, Margaret Gardner, and Liz

Reed. He is survived by Jayne Bartell Westmoreland,

his wife of 57 years; and their two sons,

Barney W. (Chip) Westmoreland, his wife Meg, and their children

Jonathan and Barbara Jayne. The other son, Russell E.

(Rusty) and his children, Summer, Sydney, and Savanna. He

is also survived by one sister, Sara Kay Stifle; two brothers,

James Hogan Westmoreland, and Douglas Howard Westmoreland

and wife Janell, as well as George Reed, husband of the

late Mary Elizabeth.

Colonel Westmoreland was born July 31, 1933 in Tallulah,

LA. He is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University, and

upon graduation, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in

the US Air Force. He entered active duty March 15, 1957, and

served until retiring in August 1985. His assignments included

two tours in Germany, tours in Okinawa, Korea, Saudi Arabia,

and Vietnam, as well as several stateside assignments.

Awards earned include the Defense Superior Service Medal,

the Bronze Star Medal for service in Vietnam, four Meritorious

Service Medals, four Air Force Commendation Medals,

the Combat Readiness Medal, the German Air Force Weapons

Qualification Badge, and entry into the Air Force Weapons Controller

Hall of Fame.

Colonel Westmoreland loved his Lord and throughout

his military career, he was active in church work in local Southern

Baptist churches, and a mission in Vietnam. He was involved

in the start of two new churches, one in Louisiana, and

one in Germany. After retiring from the Air Force, he served as

a Church Administrator for seven years, earning a “Fellows” in

church administration from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Following his “tour” as Church Administrator, Col. Westmoreland

managed an Executive Tax Service Office for H&R

Block, retiring after 12 years. Since retiring, Colonel Westmoreland

has done volunteer work, preparing federal taxes for

active and retired military personnel.

Funeral Services are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14,

at 11 am at First Baptist Church of Brandon. Visitation will be at 10

am. Gravesite service will be at the Florida National Cemetery

in Bushnell at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests

contributions to the Building Fund of the First Baptist Church

Brandon, 216 N. Parsons, Brandon, FL 33510, or LifePath Hospice,

Sun City Center, FL.