Charles Barrier

Charles Edward Barrier CONCORD "Greatest Generation" B17 pilot, Charles Edward Barrier, left this world Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, on a flight to his heavenly Father and to join his beloved wife, Elise. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at St. James Lutheran Church, officiated by the Rev. Daniel Warnes. The family will receive friends following the service in the King Fellowship Hall. A private graveside service with military honors will be held after the church service on Saturday. Captain Ed Barrier was born in Concord, Oct. 31, 1921, the second of three sons, to the late H. Smith Barrier, Sr. and Janette Lentz Barrier. He graduated from Concord Senior High in 1939, where he was the captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams. He attended UNC-Chapel Hill and Bluefield College before he enlisted into the Army Air Corps after Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. He was assigned to the 457th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force at Glatton, England in May, 1944. He completed 30 missions, many of which he was the lead plane, and was promoted to the rank of Captain. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and other aerial medal honors. He returned to Concord after the war and married his high school sweetheart, Elise Boger, completed his Commerce Degree at UNC-CH and raised his family of four children. He had a long and distinguished career with Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance and was active in many civic organizations, such as the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Captain Barrier is survived by his brother, Joseph L. Barrier (Cathy), of Charlotte; four children, Charles E. Barrier Jr. (Chris), John C. Barrier, Jan B. Minoff (Jon), and Daniel L. Barrier (Katherine); and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. James Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 684, Concord, NC 28025; the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum at 175 Bourne Ave., Pooler, GA 31322; the Boys and Girls Club, 247 Spring St. NE, Concord NC 28025; and to the Boy Scout Troop 59 at 2400 Old Salisbury Rd., Concord NC 28025. Online condolences may be left at wilkinsonfuneralhome. com. Wilkinson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.