John Thomas Barabas

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of John T. Barabas, age 84, on October 3rd, 2024, at his home in Suwanee, Georgia. He is survived by his brother Milan Barabas; his son John Matthew Barabas; daughters Victoria Barabas and Suzanne Whitehouse; sons-in-law Nathan Whitehouse and David Purcell; daughter-in-law Allison Stilley; grandchildren Sydney and Lucas Whitehouse; and additional relatives and friends.
John was a gentle soul - soft spoken but with a strong spirit. He was forever smiling, with a mild-mannered presence that put everyone at ease. His company felt like a warm hug. You would never meet a man who was immediately kinder or more welcoming. John was nothing if not a lover. He loved people, loved socializing, with a special talent for storytelling. And his stories were endless. He would tell them often, his rich voice breaking to a chuckle, his honeyed eyes twinkling. But it was the simplicity of life that John perhaps loved the most, and that he was able to effortlessly inhabit, manifesting itself in a kind of unaffected wisdom. In life, he was as even as the horizon. When he discovered he was ill, he did not waver. He met his sickness head-on with a steadfast battle that kept him alive and positive for the next two years. As witnesses, we can attest that he was smiling until the end. His resolute will, sage optimism, and unconditional kindness were an inspiration to us all, as was his love for those around him - his friends, his family, and most notably, for his late wife, Elizabeth, who he kept close to his heart with unparalleled remembrance, a tender affection that was love incarnated, palpable to any onlooker. The most devoted husband and a remarkable father, he will be profoundly missed.
A public viewing will be held on Friday, October 11th from 4pm to 6 pm at the Buford Chapel of Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes & Crematory, 201 Morningside Dr., Buford, GA 30518. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 3:00 pm, at the same location.
For those not able to attend, a livestream of the service may be found at the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/4646033