I met Col Barnard at West Point as a cadet rooming with his son Larry. Col Barnard always had the heart to mentor young people, regardless if it was entering military or society. He provided such wisdom and real world knowledge that whatever he said, we soaked it all up. A humor so dry that it makes the Sahara look like an ocean view; he always had something to say. He was a great, lovable man; he and Mrs Barnard are both so generous that they always made you feel like part of their family. He leaves behind a wonderful legacy, both in the lessons he taught the following generations, and his amazing children and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

Larry - A funny memory from 1971 – Bob was on leave traveling to California. I was his XO for the 1097th TC at Fort Eustis, when the 1971 Mayday Protests broke out in DC. This is a link to background https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_May_Day_protests.

A Riot Control Task Force was assembled at Fort Eustis pulling troops from various components. Bob was assigned as the Company Commander. During an assembly being reviewed by the commanding general – here I am (a 2nd LT) standing (for Bob)  in front of 3 platoons each lead by 1st LT’s when the general drives by in review. Talking about strange – we just did it. 

Fortunately Bob arrived just after the assembly and off we went to DC. Talk about a rag tag put together outfit. I believe we were lost on the streets in DC for days and the news media reported a huge force entering DC (but we were just driving around in circles). Our S-3 had no mapping skills, so it was a hoot. But we survived and returned to Eustis. 

I don’t know how we stayed together over the years, but we did. I think at many times, in later years, we competed on the technology side and the exchange was really good for both of us. A trip to Fry’s was always on our schedule during my Las Vegas visits. 

As I’ve said before – I feel one of the the best things he gave me was his friendship and the honor to know you, your Mom, Kori, and your wonderful children. I pray that we all find comfort.  

Ray Lester


Larry - As I read the many memorials for your Dad, I realize I’m one of his oldest living friends. It’s strange that I am actually older than your Dad, as my birthday was 27 Jan 47 (but he didn’t let me know it until we hit our 70’s). I guess we were a lot alike in many ways and in others very different. He traveled a military career and I worked through the private sector with IBM. 

Bob must have entered the US Army just after high school, as I remember he was so proud of being one of the youngest officers in service. He was so proud to be a lieutenant at 18. When we met in 1971 he was an O-3, which meant he had been in for 3+ years or so. I was an O-1 fresh out of Engineer OCS at Fort Belvoir. I had a B.A. in Business Admin and had Basic at FT Leonard Wood, AIT at Ft Sill, then 26 weeks at Fort Belvoir. 

I remember your Dad’s desk name plate. On one side was CPT Robert L Barnard, and on the other side facing him was a statement – “Familiarity Breeds Contempt.” One thing for sure was that your Dad was independent in thinking and actions. I am also an individual with independent thinking. I believe that’s why we stayed in contact over the years. Many of our thoughts were the same – maybe Bob was a little more conservative than I was, but we were always on the RIGHT SIDE.

One of the best things he gave me was his friendship and the honor to know you, your Mom, Kori, and your wonderful children. Your Dad was truly a good friend.

Ray Lester


Bob,

Sometimes you walk into a room and are immediately drawn to a personality.  I will truly miss your sharing and welcoming personality.  Thursday lunches at Rotary are forever changed for me.  You welcomed me to Las Vegas and included me in your sphere of friendship.  I was, am and will always remember that genuine offer of friendship.

The Lord is lucky to have you back in His hold.  He must have been missing your wit and special gift of sharing.  Now it is mine to miss!

I love you, Bob, and wish you Godspeed to His next assignment.

Bruce Frazey

Yoko and Family,
I will miss seeing Bob each week at Rotary as will all of our club. I always looked forward to seeing him, even though I never knew what he was going to say or do! I feel we had a special bond that really developed the year I was Rotary President. At the end of my year he sent me a compilation of pictures that he  had taken...a few with additional artwork or notes, just to give me a hard time! He had a kind heart and could take a ribbing as well as dishing it out. Recently when he found out I was taking a trip to Costa Rica, he informed me about a special Costa Rican Rum that he had enjoyed during his trips there. He seemed disappointed when I returned home and discovered that I had not tried it while I was there. In true Bob fashion, he gave me a bottle the next time we were together.

Please accept our sincere condolences,
Randy & Sally Donald

Yoko,

We will miss Bob.  He was such a pleasure to  be around.  I enjoyed all the emails that he sent.  Funny, Political, Educational and a mystery as how he found such great stuff on the web.  He posted all of the Rotary pictures that I took at our weekly Rotary meetings.
Every time I think of Bob he will bring a happy smile to my face.

Please accept our sincere condolences and well wishes to your family.  

Jim & Michelle Tucker

Over the last few decades, I was in regular communication with Bob, usually just funny (sometimes a bit political) stuff.  But through the years, I had him pegged as a very warm and considerate person.  He also helped me a bit with my military records that were lost at St. Louis, since I was among those whose records burned in the 1970's fire, and he was a senior officer there during the fire and water recovery efforts.

Along with Setsuko, Yone and I visited the Barnard house in Las Vegas, some years back, after returning from a trip to Okinawa for the Uchinanchu festival.   Yoko, Sets, Yone and I were all involved in that Uchinanchu trip  as well as a short visit to Las Vegas.  I even have a few pictures we took at one of the fancy hotels in Las Vegas, and a few taken at Yoko and Bob's house.  We stayed at the Barnard house a day or two during that visit.  We also saw Bob and Yoko a time or two at the annual Okinawa New Year celebration that is held each January or February at a country club or hotel here in the L. A. area.  And there were always the Seasons Greetings from Bob (see image of Christmas Card from 2009).

I will miss his humor, as demonstrated in  his emails, and the attention he paid to those of us receiving his emails.  He polled us to make sure that we were desirous of receiving his emails, and he distributed emails according to the wishes of the recipients.

Yoko will miss Bob, a lot.  He was her rock.  And we will miss him too.  I feel as if I am a better person for having known Bob.

Like so many others, I was shocked to hear that Col. Bob had passed; although I should say I didn't truly know him as "Col. Bob" but rather as Larry's dad. The dad who welcomed me into his home when Larry and I became friends in grade school, and continued to welcome me into his home after we reached high school, even as my hair got longer and my interest in loud guitars became all-consuming. The dad that (and maybe some of Larry's other friends can attest to this) did tend to strike a little fear into the hearts of kids who were probably staying up much too late during sleepovers. Looking back on all of that now I realize he was playing his part just right, and I think we can all agree that Larry is the uncontested proof of that. 

I'm profoundly grateful that I got to see Bob & Yoko recently, surrounded by their loving family, and that we got to catch up a little. I'll never forget the generosity and openness that the Barnard family showed me, all through the years. Larry can attest that I struggled with how to refer to Col. Bob in this memorial; being a civilian, I wasn't sure what was appropriate. I don't know exactly how I addressed him at our last dinner, but I think I know now how I should have. The only thing that fits, really. I'd call him "sir". 

Bob was the source for many an email with a joke that my dad shared with us that put a smile on our faces.  I know my dad (Heinz) will miss him very much.



Bob; I want to thank you for being the greatest mentor an Army Officer can have. You taught me to always be fair and honest in dealing with personnel you supervise. Your advise to always look it up has served me well during the rest of my military career as I have learned so much but am far short of the amount of knowledge you possessed in the field of automation and technology. Both Lee and I will always remember the great times we had with you and Yoko while we served together at RCPAC. We both want to express our condolences to your family that I know you were always so proud of and constantly spoke of them on a daily basis. Love Paul and Lee Torick.

I met Bob when I reported to my first duty station at China Lake, CA.  He had no idea why an Ensign was assigned to him, let alone what to do with me.  I always got a good laugh from his jabs at the Navy. Though I only worked for him less than a year, we managed to keep in touch for the last 22 years.  Bob was a great friend and mentor.  I will miss our chats and his dry humor. Thank you for your service to our country and “Fair Winds and Following Seas” my friend!

Tuesday Lunch with Bob - 7 years running
Tuesdays, 11:30 AM a wonderful time of the week.
Bob would be sitting in a booth.  With his dry voice he would announce: "you are 1 minute - 4 minutes - 5 minutes LATE". Paul and I would smile and our weekly lunch would start in high spirits.  Events of the week would be dissected - Bob and Paul with their red necks and my red/blue and in between.  Always laughing at each other.  Bob's dry sense of humor permeating the conversation.  Wonderful times which will be sorely missed.  Tuesday with Bob was the center piece of the week.

From the point of view of a high school kid trying to figure out who he was and wanted to be, Bob stood out to me as different from other friends’ Dads. He showed us what it was to be both disciplined and lighthearted, and how they needn’t be mutually exclusive. On a weekend Southern California road trip with Bob, Yoko, Larry and Ritsu I could see that he wasn’t just a father, uncle and husband, he was a leader. And his leadership traits were a result of his personality: jovial and dauntless, but strict when the 17-year-olds around him needed him to be so. The man I am today would not be same if I didn’t know Bob and his family, and I will never forget him.

We had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Bob through the marriage of our daughter Kori to his son Larry. He was a very well liked man and gave so much of his self to others. He was always there for our daughter, his son and his grandchildren. He absolutely adored his grandchildren and they adored him. He was married to the love of his life. We were saddened to learn of his passing and know that he will be greatly missed. The angels have a great man and we know that he will watch over his family.

I miss my good friend. We met in 1970 at Fort Eustis. I had just graduated from OCS and Bob had just returned from a tour in Vietnam. This began a friendship that continued through almost  50 years. I remember, one  year I received a Christmas card that was signed Bob & Yoko and didn’t know about their marriage – it was typical Bob – surprise!  Our friendship continued through the years and we reconnected during his deployment to the US Army Records Center here in St Louis. As the years passed, I started visiting his fair city of Las Vegas and we always got together with Yoko, Larry, Kori and his wonderful Grand Children for Sunday brunch. I had planned my visit this year for Dec 7 to Dec 11, exchange emails with Bob, and looked forward to a Sunday morning brunch to catch up. I was totally shocked - when Kori called…. I felt a deep sadness and overwhelmed by emptiness. I was not prepared to hear that Bob had passed.  I will miss my friend – his frequent emails – that funny grin – his laugh – but most of all his sincere friendship. 

Uncle Bobby, 
My heart hurts. 
You were my only Uncle that I had the honor to know. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the man you were.  
You and Aunt Yoko raised an amazing man in Larry, and were an amazing Father-in-Law to Kori and the grand kids.  Your respect and love for Aunt Yoko was unsurpassed. 
Whenever I had a post to make regarding the military achievements by any of my grand kids, I instantly thought of you and how proud of them I knew you would be. Your response to them in my posts were always with pride and respect for their accomplishments.
I will miss the heartfelt wonderful birthday and holiday wishes I would get from you.  I will miss the hilarious emails you sent, and will always wonder, "where in the heck is he getting these from?!" I had so many wonderful, very much "laugh out loud" moments reading them.
I love you Uncle Bobby.

Colonel - born in the middle of WWII and lived to serve his country in a time when others ran. I don't know what Bob lived and saw during his time on this earth but I know that he lived a magnanimous life with us in the Las Vegas Rotary. I can't recall a day that he missed our Thursday get togethers and he held court at the back of the room like he owned the place. He knew all of the staff and they knew him...to me that is the presence of a King and he will be missed. He lived and left a legacy.  RIP Colonel...your service and life is appreciated and remembered.

One of the first to arrive at our annual "Santa Clothes" shopping event last week with his smile, willingness to do anything to help with an uncanny sense of humor. I'm getting ready for our 1st weekly Rotary meeting without him and I already miss the way he would have fun me and other friends by baiting us into a conversation with a sharp tongue and quick wit. Always kind with donations to everything from Santa Clothes to our cigar fellowships, his presence will be greatly missed by all.

I'm deeply saddened, shocked and in disbelief in hearing this tragic news last night. It was only 6 days ago that we were all having fun at the Rotary Christmas Party, I was teasing you about buying raffle tickets because you always win.  We took a fun picture together at the photo booth because I was dressed like Mrs. Claus and I said I needed a Santa Claus, you looked so cute with the cowboy hat! I asked you to be sure to show it to Yoko when she gets home from Japan.  I will miss sitting at your table as I did in the main dining room at Lawrys. When I first met you in 2008, you gave me a hard time about wanting to sit at your table, it was your dry sense of humor. LOL. As the years went by, you would save me a seat, that was so sweet, and I felt so honored that I was one of your group, lol. I will miss you teasing me all the time and will certainly miss that smile that will not be at that table anymore. RIP Bob. Thank you for your service to our country and to Rotary. Prayers and Courage to Yoko.

I am so sad to hear this news.  Bob always had a happy smile and greeting for me when he checked in at Rotary weekly.  His jokes and crazy comments to John were always funny and entertaining.  Our club will no longer be the same without him.  
His love for his wife and family was always visible and I admired this so much.  
Rest in Peace Bob and thank you for the many laughs!

I will miss Bob so much. I always had a smile on my face when I would stand at the Podium ready to open our Rotary meeting and would glance back at the table where Bob "held court" each week. I will miss his dry sense of humor and his jokes. When I would go back to his table before the meeting I could always count on some sort of sarcastic remark, one that he and I would banter a bit back and forth with a hearty laugh! Colonel Bob, thank you for your service to our Country, thank you for all the wonderful memories and the legacy you left the Las Vegas Rotary Club. Yoko, you and your family will be in my prayers.

We are so saddened to learn of Bob's passing.  Bob was a great friend and fellow veteran.  He could always be counted on for a sarcastic comment or an evil look when he talked about the Navy or the Marine Corps.  And he started "Birthday Table #2" at our Rotary meetings when it was his birthday and he didn't want to sit up front with the rest of the birthday crowd.   Every year he would send email greetings for Thanksgiving, Christmas, other holidays and our birthdays.  He had special slogans he would include with the weekly pictures of our Rotary meetings.  He was clever, creative and extremely dry in the humor category.  We will miss his puns, his wry smile and his wit.  He was a one-of-a-kind character.  Yoko was his sweetheart and love!  As is tradition in the Naval Service, we wish Bob "Fair Winds and Following Seas."

Steve & Janet Linder

OBITUARY

Colonel Robert L. Barnard USA, Ret.

September 11, 1947 – December 8, 2019

Palm Southwest Mortuary

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