Sterling E. "Yogi" Barrow, Sr.

Sterling Elton “Yogi” Barrow, Sr. was born to Graydon Elton Barrow and Lucille (Argo) Barrow on July 11, 1922 in Goose Creek (now Baytown), Texas and died peacefully at home in Garden Ridge, TX on February 25, 2020. He was a fourth generation Texan whose great uncle, Ross Sterling, was once the Governor. He was known to many as a natural leader, mentor, devoted husband, father, brother, son and valued friend. And usually as the life of the party!

Sterling grew up in the Humble oil field camps in southeast Texas, graduating from Pasadena High School in 1940, where he met the love of his life Gene Torrance. He continued his education at Rice University and University of Houston, before passing the aviation cadet exams in 1941. He graduated as an Aviation Cadet in January 1943 (20 years old) and married Gene (3 days before her 18th birthday) on January 21 in Houston. They were happily married for 65 years before her passing.

His military career in the US Air Force spanned 33-1/3 years, from 2nd Lt. to Colonel, serving in three wars. During WWII he flew in 1944/45 with the 14th Air Force’s 35th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron in China, flying the F-5 (P-38) between China and India. He served in the Reserves for a couple of years, built out a home and bought a grocery store in Genoa, TX, volunteered with the local fire department, and became a father in 1947 and 1950. Back on active duty in October 1951, he served as base Personnel Officer - C-47 VIP pilot crew for 5th Air Force Commander, flying military and USO dignitaries all over Korea and Japan.

During his tour in Korea, Sterling got his nickname “Yogi” because Barrow sounded a lot like New York Yankee Yogi Berra who was in his prime. The nickname Yogi stuck for the rest of his life, commonly used by everyone except his close family.

Assignments after Korea were in Waco TX, Moultrie GA, San Antonio TX, and Anchorage AK. From 1963 to 1967 he was at the Pentagon with the Colonel’s Assignment Group. From there Lt. Col. Barrow transferred to Williams AFB in Arizona as Commander of the 3526th Pilot Training Squadron. In 1970 Colonel Barrow arrived in Nha Trang, Vietnam serving for a year on the 7th AF Advisory Team to the South Vietnam Air Force. Two months after returning from Vietnam, Sterling and Gene shipped their 1967 GTO to Bitburg Air Base, Germany where he was Base Commander until 1974. He retired from Randolph AF Base, San Antonio, in August 1975. Yogi maintained contact with his military buddies throughout the years, from WWII on.

Yogi and Gene built a beautiful home in Garden Ridge, TX with a pool in the back that was usually filled with family and friends of all ages. They had been avid van campers in Germany, traveling through Europe with “the Rat Pack” group of partying friends. Back in Texas they moved into motorhome camping with “The Ruidoso Gang” and others, driving through the US and Canada from coast to coast, taking tropical cruises and returning to Alaska. Christmas family gatherings grew over the years, with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren filling the house with love and laughter. The Barrow familial ties are strong - multiple reunions have been held in Hankamer, TX over the years.

His genuine love of people, great sense of humor, adventurous spirit and generosity affected everyone who knew him. Connecting with people - from the store clerk to the maintenance man to the people at the next table in a restaurant - was important to him. Having fun was important too, and he did a lot of that! As Major Daniel Jackson, author and mentee of Yogi’s for 13 years said, he was “a great aviator and a gracious mentor whose good humor couldn’t help but improve any situation”.

Sterling is survived by his daughter Janice Quinn (Michael), son Sterling Elton Barrow Jr.; granddaughters Vala Shanti Delsarte and Grace Sterling Lamp (Harrison), grandsons Daniel Barrow, Jesse Williams, and Dylan Quinn; 4 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandaughter, and numerous nieces and nephews of multiple generations.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his three sisters Dorothy Hill, Lois Westerman, and Annie Faye Marshall; a few dogs, and many cats.

A (much-delayed due to COVID) private interment was held at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors on November 10, 2021, followed by a family and friends gathering at the Oak Valley Vineyards Restaurant in Garden Ridge to celebrate Yogi’s 97 fruitful years.