Kenneth A. Barry
February 25, 1944 ~ August 14, 2010
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville ~ Kenneth A. Barry passed away unexpectedly at 9:30 AM on August 14, 2010.
He was born on February 25, 1944 in Bay City, Michigan to the parents of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Barry. Ken was the youngest of four children. He graduated from Bay City Central High School in Bay City, Michigan. Upon graduation, he matriculated to Greenville, Illinois where he became a student at Greenville College where he majored in biology and education and minored in Spanish. While there, He also sang in the A cappella choir, participated in the mission club and spent four summers and vacations in Mexico as a college missionary, He was an active member in both the Spanish and Science clubs, he served as the Chaplain for the class of 1966. He met his wife Judi who was a member of the Class of 1966. Upon graduation, they were married. In 1966, Ken and Judi moved to Wilmore, Kentucky where Ken attended Seminary at Asbury theological seminary for a year and a half. Realizing that He wanted to be a teacher, Ken accepted a job with the Farmington Public schools in Farmington, Michigan in 1969. Ken worked as a Science teacher in Farmington for eleven years. He loved teaching.
During that time, Ken and Judi were blessed with the gift of adoption. They received their son Jonathan in 1971 and their daughter Carmen in 1972.
In 1978 Ken decide to make a career change and he accepted a job offer working as a pharmaceutical sales representative for the Upjohn Company. This promotion forced the family to move to Iowa City Iowa. During the early years with the Upjohn Company, Ken experienced much success as he received promotions that quickly moved the family to Cleveland, Ohio where he was a hospital representative and then to the head quarters in Kalamazoo, Michigan where he worked as a communications specialist. In 1998, the Upjohn Company was acquired by the Swedish company, Pharmacia and the headquarters moved to New Jersey. Ken and Judi moved to New Jersey with the company where Ken became the executive director of marketing. The company merged again with Pfizer Corporation and Ken was forced to commute in to New York City for work. Ken became the director of advertising for Pfizer and worked in New York City for four years. He retired from Pfizer in 2005. He and Judi bought a beautiful home in Asheville North Carolina (God's Country as Judi often called it).
During retirement, Ken became active in Rotary. One of the activities he enjoyed was arranging and traveling with WWII veterans to Washington DC to view the WWII monument. He served on the board for both Rotary and Guardian Ad Litem, He was a faithful member of the Arden Presbyterian Choir, he attended Bible study Fellowship, and he was master gardener, spending countless hours creating his "Garden of Eden."
Ken leaves behind his loving wife Judi of 44 years, his son Jonathan, daughter Carmen and son in law Larry. Most beloved were his five granddaughters: Ariana, 18, Jordynn, 15, Rian 11, Kennedy 10 and Skylar 9.
Ken left a legacy of Christian love and commitment. He was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and this was evident in his love for God's word and God's people.
A celebration of Ken's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian with the Revs. Chris Yates and Guy Sayles officiating.
The family will receive friends from 7-8:30p.m. Tuesday and again one hour before the service, both at the funeral home.
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Judi, my heart & prayers go out to & your family at this time of your lose. Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you. May the Holy Spirit put his arms around you & draw you near. Trust in Him with all your heart.
In Christ,
Richard & Jackie Vaughn
APC
To the Barry Family: I had the pleasure of getting to know Ken through our mutual work with the Rotary Club of Asheville. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you during this sad time.
Judi, Carmen, Jon, and family,
The Aldrich and Triplett families are so sorry for your loss. Ken was a wonderful man, with an open heart and easy laugh. Our prayers are with you.
Love,
amy
I was sorry to hear of Ken’s passing. I got to know him in Rotary and hoped to know him better. My thoughts are with you.
My best wishes for the family. May your memories of shared joy bring you some peace in a time of sorrow.
John Whitmire (Asheville Rotary)
To the Barry Family: I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Ken. I got to know Ken through Rotary and I know we will all miss him very much. He was an outstanding Rotarian. I’ll be thinking of you at this most difficult time.
To The Barry Family:
I am very sorry for your loss. Please know many friends in Rotary share in your loss.
Vic Dossey
August 16, 2010
To the Barry Family:
I had the privilege of knowing and serving with Ken in Rotary. His enthusiasm and willingness to help added so much to our club – he quickly became one of our leading members. We will miss his help and his ready smile. I will keep your family in my prayers.
Faye Burner
Judi (and family),
Ken and I became friends through BSF when you first relocated here. I could tell then that he was a special man. I enjoyed the visits to watch him with his landscaping projects and seeing what pride he took in the work he was doing.
Then, he asked me to send a referral as he applied to become a participant in the Guardian program. I was honored to do so.
Later, I watched Ken come into Rotary and in a quiet, unassuming way, he became a valued member and leader. His work on Honor Air helped hundreds of our WWII veterans have a special day.
He will be a loss to many of his friends as well as to your family.
Patti and I will be remembering you and your family in our prayers at this time.
Even though I have known Ken only a few years, my respect for him as a person was very high. He seemed to be a kind, gentle man with a strong desire to help others. He will be greatly missed.
Judi:
The statement about your husband is certainly true:
‘Ken left a legacy of Christian love and commitment. He was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and this was evident in his love for God’s word and God’s people’
Ken meant a lot to Rotary, Honor Air, and our community.
My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will comfort you and your family at this sad time.
Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr.
We are so sorry to hear of Ken’s leaving us but we are confident he is in a far better place. We have fond memories of our times together. We pray you will know God’s peace in a special way as you look to the future.
Ken was a lovely person. Please accept my heartfelt prayers and condolences.
Karen Hultin
Fellow Rotarian
Judi, we were saddened when Millie gave us the news today. We feel very blessed to have met y’all even though that was at a sad time too. Having that short time with y’all was special. May your faith and the assurance of God’s never changing love, give you peace today and courage for each tomorrow.
Dear Judi, Ken was a great addition to our Ashville Men’s BSF Class. I had the privilege of being his Discussion Group Leader when you two first moved South. You and I spoke a few times when I called to follow up with him that year. I will lift you and the family up in prayer. There is grief that he is no longer here but joy in knowing where he is now! much love to you, Frank Grimes
I will always remember the kind and tender nature that Ken often showed towards others. He will be missed.
Dear Judi,
We are so saddened to learn of Ken’s passing. He was a wonderful person, friend, colleague, and boss, to whom we owed a debt of gratitude. As you well know, our trust in him was the reason we moved with Pharmacia to New Jersey, and his sincere consideration of his employees was the reason we were able to retire early. We so enjoyed our many visits with you both in Michigan, in New Jersey, and in North Carolina. Ken will be forever remembered with our prayers for you and your family.
I really loved getting to know Ken during the Singing Christmas Tree at Arden Presbyterian. I am so sorry to hear of this great loss. Ken was a very kind and gentle man with a heart that belonged to God and his family. We will be praying for comfort for the family.
Mike & Debbie Harris & family
Judi and family,
I always considered Ken and Judi as very dear Christian friends, and appreciated the friendship of both. To fully understand that Ken is with our Lord and Savior helps a great deal, but I recognize the real sense of loss. You will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. Jim and Verla Mayse
Ken was a good friend and a good Rotarian. He was much appreciated by the Honor Air team specifically. We will miss him.
We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Ken’s passing. Having known Ken since hiring him for his sales position in Iowa, we know him to have been a first class gentle man with deep abiding love for his maker. We are only heartened to know that he is now with God. Our love surrounds Judi and family during this sad time with prayers for God’s grace and comfort for them
Love
Henk & Sandy
What a lovly man he was!!! I will miss his smiling face when I came to the home!!! We are praying for you all, Love, Dean & Louise
My deepest condolences. I met Ken two years ago when we went through the training for Guardian ad Litem. He was definitely a leader and someone who set a very positive example. He will be greatly missed.
I will miss Ken’s smiling face at Bible Study Fellowship this year. He was such a joy and encouragement to everyone he met. My condolences to the family.
Dear Judi and Family,
What a shock to read our edition of What’s First @ Second and see this news! We are stunned and grieving at this unexpected loss. Yes, Ken is in a far better place, but that only helps a little now. We pray for you Comfort, Peace, and Grace. Much love, Jeanne and Duncan
It has been my deepest honor to work alongside Ken through the Guardian ad Litem program. He has changed the lives of both the children he represented and their families. I will miss him deeply.
My thoughts and prayers are with Ken’s family. All of Rotary is so sad with you. Ken is such a kind and gentle man and I will always remember him as one of the most gentle souls I know. Peace be with you.
Our thoughts & prayers are with you this day and in the days to come. We were blessed to know Ken for this special but short time.
Judi,John, Carmen & Family,
No words can express the sorrow we feel in our hearts.
We also feel joy, in that we were friends with your dear Ken. It was a privilege and blessing to know him.
God Bless you with the peace, that passes all understanding and comfort that only God can give.
We love you all.
Doug and Nona
Dear Judi,
We were so sad to hear of Ken’s death, because of your being apart now for awhile. We can’t but rejoice that he so loved the Lord and encouraged so many with his faith and cheerful smile and attitude (Guenter spoke of this about him) but are sad for all who will miss him here until we are reunited in the presence of the Lord. We have not been where you are now and can only say we love you and are praying for you and trusting the Lord to comfort and care for you in your hurt and sorrow. Our love to you
Judi,
Amy and I were shocked to learn of Ken’s passing. I can not imagine what you have gone through.
I can only tell you that I will miss him Him greatly, the wisdom he provided to me during our Thursday’s morning gatherings, his kind manner, smiling face and his fellow support as a Christian man. Please know that you and your family are in our prayers.
We have lovely memories of Ken, especially the way the two of you ‘adopted’ us and our children and welcomed us to both the neighborhood and Second Reformed. You and the rest of your family are in our thoughts and prayers. With Christ’s love, Greg, Deb and Caitlin (and the ‘boys’)
Judi,
I was saddened to hear yesterday that Ken passed away. I have fond memories of him as a great colleague at Upjohn marketing in Kalamazoo. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Judi and family, Marty called me last week to inform me of Ken’s passing.We were so sorry to hear of this sad news.
The family of Lois Barry Woodcock
Dear Mrs Barry
This is your friend from the Skyland Post Office. I was saddened to just find out about your husband. You both have been so kind to me and I will always appreciate it. I will be praying for you during this difficult time.