Mr. Donald J. Barvilchak
Mr. Donald J. Barvilchak
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Mr. Donald J. Barvilchak, age 74, passed away on Sunday, October 5, 2025 surrounded by his family.
Born December 8, 1950 in Pittsburgh, PA, he was the son of the late George and Florence Tolbert Barvilchak. Don was a retired Veteran, having proudly served in the U.S. Marines, where he was a Purple Heart recipient. He also served in various Veteran's groups. Following his retirement, Don worked with the American Red Cross for over 15 years helping with Disaster Relief.
Along with his parents, Don was predeceased by a sister, Helen Burley.
Surviving are his sisters, Kathy McHenry and Mary Barvilchak; a brother, George Barvilchak (Debbie); his favorite uncle, Harry Tolbert; his special friends and caretakers, Sterling and Samantha Pelfry and their children, Asher and Kinley; Scott and Emily (who he loved like family); and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family.
A visitation will be held Monday, October 13, 2025, from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Carolina Forest Chapel, 325 Hinson Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579.
Memorial donations may be made in Don's memory to ABATE of South Carolina, PO Box 5891, West Columbia, SC 29171.
Please sign the online guest book at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com
Goldfinch Funeral Home, Carolina Forest Chapel is serving the family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
Terry Novak
October 11, 2025
Donny, You lived your life with Gusto! Heaven has another Marine Guard for its gate. Rest well my friend! Above are two Marines just messing around!
Tricia Cunningham
October 10, 2025
My dad was the first to be diagnosed with PTSD in 1985. He was proud to serve his country and even prouder of his legacies, my brother Chris & I. Our relationship was tested, at times, due to his PTSD struggles, but the last 3 years, of 53, were a beautiful celebration of love, laughter, and tears, and he was overjoyed to be Pap to his grandchildren, Brittni, Noelle (Tyler), & Chad (Kyrie), and his great-grandchildren: Kaydence, Kendall, Ryder, Layne, Bennett, Kassidy, Jax, and Weston. He was thrilled to start this new chapter with his family. I gifted him a new phone to stay connected with everyone and to video chat. Though he initially complained about the technology, he soon grew to love Facebook, where he could watch his loved ones every day. Our conversations were truly special, and we learned so much about each other. I finally had the loving father I had always wanted. I visited him as often as I could, and we created lasting memories, especially during my visit last summer when we spent a week together. Watching his great-grandson Ryder play in basketball tournaments, sharing ice cream, and taking walks on the beach are memories I will always treasure. But what I will cherish most is the glimmer in his eyes when we would sit on the porch at night, and he would express how proud he was of me, my brother, and all the kids and grandkids. He was beaming with pride and love for everyone, including my mother and his former wife, Amy. The last phone call he had with any of us was with his son-in-law and my husband, Sean, whom he cherished,where he shared his final wishes and asked us to be present at his funeral at Arlington Cemetery, and we will honor those wishes. We love you, Daddy, always and forever a proud daughter of a Marine. Sempre Fi
Tricia Cunningham
October 7, 2025
My father gave my brother and me up for adoption when we were little. Though he struggled to cope with fatherhood in those days, he made a conscious effort to reenter our lives throughout the years. We both had the opportunity to live with him at different times, and my husband and I even lived next to him for years in MyrtleBeach. After nearly a decade of estrangement, we reunited three years ago, and ironically, he passed away on the exact same day, three years later. Our reunion was a beautiful celebration of love, laughter, and tears, and he was overjoyed to be reintroduced to his grandchildren, Brittni, Noelle (Tyler), & Chad (Kyrie), and his great-grandchildren: Kaydence, Kendall, Ryder, Layne, Bennett, Kassidy, Jax, and Weston. He was thrilled to start this new chapter with his family. I gifted him a new phone to stay connected with everyone and to video chat. Though he initially complained about the technology, he soon grew to love Facebook, where he could watch his loved ones every day. Our conversations were truly special, and we learned so much about each other. I finally had the loving father I had always wanted. I visited him as often as I could, and we created lasting memories, especially during my visit last summer when we spent a week together. Watching his great-grandson Ryder play in basketball tournaments, sharing ice cream, and taking walks on the beach are memories I will always treasure. But what I will cherish most is the glimmer in his eyes when we would sit on the porch at night, and he would express how proud he was of me, my brother, and all the kids and grandkids. He was beaming with pride and love for everyone, including my mother and his former wife, Amy. The last phone call he had with any of us was with his son-in-law and my husband, Sean, whom he cherished,where he shared his final wishes and asked us to be present at his funeral at Arlington Cemetery, and we will honor those wishes. We love you, Daddy, always and forever a proud daughter of a Marine. Sempre Fi
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