Rev. George Pascalis LaBarre Jr.

REV. GEORGE PASCALIS LABARRE, JR. The Rev. George Pascalis LaBarre, Jr., 92, long time rector of Trinity Episcopal Church Vero Beach Florida died December 16, 2006 in Denver, Colorado. He moved there in February of this year to be near his daughter Ann and her husband. Prior to Denver, he had lived with his other daughter Nell and her husband in Plantation, Florida for three years. Father LaBarre was born on an ancestral cotton plantation in Midnight, Mississippi on September 22, 1914. After graduating from the University of Mississippi he attended Yale Divinity School where he met and in 1940 married Helen Ellis who was a student in the Yale Graduate School of Nursing. From 1942 to 1946 he was a Naval Chaplain, serving with his "beloved" marines in the Central Pacific. During most of the Second World War he was assigned to the First Defense Battalion, Pacific Group. Fr. LaBarre, like many WWII veterans did not often speak of the war but once stated: "Our task was to help with the evacuation of the Marshall Islands. The Japanese had left before we got there. There was no danger to us. But they had killed the Marshallese leaders, who were mostly ministers. We got several hundred people out. It was an interesting year." Following the war Father LaBarre was assigned to Albuquerque N.M., where he was the founding rector of St. Marks on the Mesa. Later he served as rector of St. Peter's Church, Cazenovia, N.Y. In 1959 he was called to Trinity Church where he served as rector for twenty years. He was proud to serve his parishioners. He demonstrated kindness, understanding, and a love for people. Father LaBarre's wife Helen died in 1987. In 1992 he married Margaret Frazier who died in 1997. He is survived by his daughters, Ann L Winterrowd of Denver, CO and Nell L Sapp of Plantation, FL, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. In 1964, his son, George Pascalis LaBarre III died. Pete, as he was known in Vero, was active in the community. He was a founding member of the board of trustees of St. Edwards School, a long time member and past president of the Rotary Club, active in the Ministerial Association, and the Council on Aging. Until recently he was a fixture at Veterans Day celebrations where he proudly offered the benediction. A memorial service is planned for 11:00 am Saturday, January 6,2007 at Trinity Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Trinity Episcopal Church, Vero Beach, Florida.