Joseph Byron Barr Sr.

Joseph Byron Barr, Sr.

Funeral services for Joseph Byron Barr, Sr. of Simmesport will take place at the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church of Simmesport on Tuesday, December 27, 2011, beginning at 10:00am with Pastor Gilbert Barr officiating. Visitations will also be held at the church on Monday, December 26, 2011, from 4:00pm to 10:00pm and will resume Tuesday morning. Burial services will commence at the Masonic Cemetery.

Joseph Barr, Sr., age 92, passed away at the LaSalle General Hospital on Friday, December 23, 2011. He served our country in World War II from 1940 - 1945 as a Technical Sergeant participating in North African Campaign, the Invasion of Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge also the Invasion of Sicily. His awards included the ETO Ribbon with 7 Battle stars, the Purple Heart, Combat Inf. Badge, Bronze Star with valor, Silver Star with valor, Expeditionary forces medal, Army Commendation medal, Unit Citation with 3 oak leaves, He was wounded in battle while in Germany in 1945.

He retired from the Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans Area Office, where he served as an Inspector, working many years in St. Francisville.

He was a member of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church. Mr. Barr will also be remembered for his active membership of Atchafalaya Lodge #163 F & AM in Simmesport as Master of the Lodge and Secretary for many years. He and his wife, Dorothy was also members Order of the Eastern Stars #219 in Marksville. He was also a Shriner member of Habibi Temple and a member of Knights Templar.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Mae Barr; parents, Mack and Oneilia Bonnette Barr; son, Louis Barr; grandchildren, Christopher M. Barr, Geralyn Barr Desoto; brothers, Creff Barr, Johnny Barr, Carleton Barr; sisters, Elodie Whitehead, Estella Lewis, Kate Ponthier.

He is survived by his children, Gilbert Barr of Simmesport, Donald Barr of Angola, Joseph Barr, Jr. Simmesport, James Barr of Mandeville, John Barr of Hamburg, Kenneth Allen Barr of Jonesville, Adrin Becky White of Jonesville. He is also survived by his twenty-nine grandchildren and thirty-eight great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers for the service will include David Barr, Wesley Barr, Micah Barr, Jamie Barr, Joseph Barr III, Andrew Barr, Jesse Barr, Calvin Barr, Lance Barr, Aavon Barr, Derek Barr, and Joshua Barr.

Services and arrangements are under the directions of Escudé Funeral Home.