William Arthur Barber, fondly known as Art, 94, went to his heavenly home on Thursday, May 18, 2023. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather, a respected businessman, and a Christian. Art was born to William Arthur Barber and Lura Alline Barber, on September 23, 1928, in Stanley, North Carolina. He was the youngest, having a brother, William Marvin Barber and a sister, Mary Barber Willoughby. He was predeceased by his immediate family along with his wife, Mildred (Micki) Chapman Barber, February 21, 2020, and son William (Bill) Arthur Barber III, September 19, 2018. Art is survived by his daughter, Angela Starr Barber Berglund-Amick and his grandchildren, Michael William Berglund and wife Alex, Phillip Joshua Berglund and partner Brittany Roth, AshLeigh Starr Berglund and partner Jacob Taylor, and William Alexander Barber Geigan.

Art held many titles in his life, from Navy sailor to pharmaceutical representative, but his favorite role was being a father and grandfather. He loved nothing more than spending time with his family. He was always there to cheer them on during their many activities. He specifically loved playing chess, Rook and Putt Putt golf. He loved his church, St Stephens UMC in Burke, Virginia (1965-1995) and Buncombe Street UMC in Greenville, South Carolina (1955-1960 and 1995-2023). He was a member of the Tommy Thomson Sunday School class. Art had a strong faith and enjoyed spending his summers at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.

Art was very active, participating in chess and astronomy clubs, volunteering through the American Legion (Bicentennial Post 1976 Annandale, VA and Paul E. Finn Memorial Post 37 American Legion in Pyeongtaek, South Korea). Art also never lost his sailor legs and enjoyed boating on the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay, Solomons Island, Maryland (1977-1983). Art was very outgoing and never met a stranger. He loved to tell stories and share his life and ideas with those he met over the years.

Art grew up in a religious home, having a father as a Methodist minister. The family moved often due to his father changing churches. Unfortunately, his father died when he was a teenager and his mother moved him to the Duncan School for Boys in Massachusetts. He attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida before transferring to Furman College where he graduated with a degree in Biology. While at Furman, Art met Micki, the love of his life. He then joined the Navy in September of 1950, moved to San Diego, and the two were wed on December 9, 1950. He was assigned as a medical technician to the USS Repose, a Haven-class hospital ship treating the wounded. While in Korea, he was proud to be there on July 27, 1953, for the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement that formally ended the war in Korea, even though his deployment made him absent for the birth of his son, William Arthur Barber III on October 27, 1952. Art was especially proud to be able to share his experiences with both Americans and Koreans during his more recent five-year stay in Korea (2018-2023).

Art and Micki enjoyed a beautiful marriage for 69 years, sharing an amazing life with two children, Bill and Angela, and four grandchildren, Michael, Phillip, AshLeigh, and Alexander." As an avid dog lover, this also included many dogs, notably Taffy, Cheri, Bailey, Precious, and Happy that lived with him as well as those with his children and grandchildren that often came to visit: Chase, Beau, Max, Lola, and Midnight.

After retiring from a 30-year career with GlaxoSmithKline, Art and Micki joined the fellowship and travel adventures sponsored by Buncombe Street United Methodist Church. These trips allowed them to strengthen their relationship with Christ and one another, as well as see parts of the continental United States. With each trip reinforcing the desire to travel, they jumped at the chance to spend much of the last five years living with their two children in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. From there, they made many exciting excursions exploring South Korea, the Philippines, Guam, India, Okinawa, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as taking longer flights to see Germany, Italy, and Alaska.

Art often told his friends, 'I am the luckiest man alive to have such a wonderful family. I have such wonderful memories. Angela even made books to capture them all. In September 2022, Art was ready to come back to the United States to be surrounded by his grandchildren and friends, as it was important to see his earthly family a few more times before joining his heavenly family.

In the brief pause between his stroke and his passing, his mood and train of thought are well expressed in these lines from the pen of Charles Wesley:

"Lord, in the strength of grace,

With a glad heart and free,

Myself, my residue of days,

I consecrate to Thee,

Thy ransomed servant, I

Restore to The Thine own,

And, from this moment, live or die,

To serve my God alone"

It was not his to choose, either the day of his birth or the date of his death; it was his responsibility to live well his allotted time and to serve his Lord, country and family with what gifts and graces God vouchsafed to him. This Art did well and without a doubt Christ has received him into his heavenly kingdom and crowned him with those choice words of divine favor: "Well done, thous good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of the Lord."

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 11:00am in the chapel of Bucombe Street United Methodist Church, Greenville, South Carolina. His urn will be placed the same day at 5:00pm in the Memorial Chapel, Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association (action.ling.org).