John Willard Barron, of Cary, NC died January 7, 2013 of natural causes on the morning of his 82nd birthday. He was the kindly patriarch of this proud French Louisiana family transplanted to NC in 1971, and delighted in tracing the family roots back through many generations.
He was born in Marksville, LA and grew up in Bunkie, LA as the son of Theresa Brouillette and Estine Barron. He was the first member of his family to go to college and attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) and then Loyola in New Orleans, where he graduated in Pharmacy and was later conferred with his Doctor of Pharmacy. He married Carmel Newton in 1951, and then spent 7 years in the US Army Medical Corps as a helicopter pilot serving in Korea, and during which time each of 3 children was born at a different army base. After discharge, he returned to Baton Rouge, LA where he operated his own pharmacy for 7 years. He then joined Burroughs-Wellcome and moved to Jacksonville, FL and then to NC. He retired as General Manager of Wellcome Diagnostics after 29 years of service. He spent many years as docent for the NC Museum of History, and was a collector of coins, and watches and clocks, which he wound and set all over the house. He was a dedicated Catholic and served as head of the liturgy committee, sang in the choir, was a lector, and kept an impressive liturgical home library. He was an outstanding and compassionate advocate for the Diocesan Tribunal of the Diocese of Raleigh.
John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carmel Newton Barron, his sister Elaine Martin (Johnny) of Lafayette, LA, daughter Brenda Sharp (Bill) of Baton Rouge, LA, son John Mark of the home, son David (Patricia Mullins) of Cary, NC, grandsons Zachary Barron and Kevin Barron.
Visitation will be Saturday, January 12 from 9:30am-11:00am at the Archangel Center Gallery located at 830 High House Road in Cary,NC right next door to St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Mass of Resurrection will be in the church at 11:30am, concelebrated by Msgr. John Wall and Msgr. Tim O’Connor.
Memorial donations may be made for music ministry at St. Michael Catholic Church in Cary, NC or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Memphis, TN.
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