Dorothy Gene Irwin Barger

NEWPORT NEWS - Dorothy Gene Irwin Barger, 81, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother, died Sept. 27, 2004. Born Oct. 6, 1922, in Powell Station, Tenn., she had been a resident of Beaconsdale Meadows in Newport News since 1955. She took an active interest in public affairs and was a dedicated member of the League of Women Voters, the United Nations Association and served as an election official at Beaconsdale precinct for many years. She also served as a substitute teacher at Warwick High School and other schools in the Newport News system. She was a faithful member of Morrison United Methodist Church where she served in numerous positions. One of her greatest joys was singing in church choirs, beginning with Mt. Hermon Methodist in Powell, Washington Pike Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., the Army Chapels in Yokohama, Japan, Bremerhaven, Germany and Ft. Eustis, Va., and for the past 40 years with Morrison's chancel choir. All those who knew her understand how greatly she will be missed. Her family has seen no greater devotion. Her abiding faith in the ideals of justice, equality and opportunity was reflected in her record of good works. Her community needs someone to stand in her place now, tutoring disadvantaged children, assisting refugees, visiting and aiding the sick and counseling those who have lost their way in life. She had a sweet spirit, a cheerful heart and never spoke an unkind word about anybody. Preceding her in death were her parents, William Haskew Irwin and Sarah Gustava Bowman Irwin, and her brothers, John M. Irwin and Joseph Bowman Irwin. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 56 years, Charles Millard Barger, Maj. US Army retired; daughter, Betty Ellen Wrightson; son, Millard Irwin Barger, daughter-in-law, Deborah; and two grandsons, Zak and Tarek, of Silver Spring, Md. She is also survived by her beloved siblings, William Haskew Irwin Jr. and his wife, Mary, of Knoxville, Wanda Virginia Auerbach and her husband, Robert, of Middleton, Wis., and Mary Nell Bloomer of Seattle. Also surviving are her sister-in-law, Georgia Irwin of Maryville, Tenn., and many nieces and nephews and their families. Visitation was held from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, at W.J. Smith & Son Funeral Home, 210 Harpersville Road, Newport News. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, at Morrison United Methodist Church, 236 Harpersville Road, with the Rev. Delia M. Parrish officiating. Burial will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be sent to Morrison United Methodist Church, the Alzheimer's Association, 225 North Michigan Ave., Suite 1700, Chicago IL 60601, or the American Parkinson Disease Association, 1250 Hylan Blvd., Suite 4B, Staten Island, NY 10305. Arrangements by W.J. Smith & Son Funeral Home.