Billy Edward Barrow

Another WWII Veteran has been lost. Billy Edward Barrow, 96, of Sharpsburg, formerly of Jacksonville, IL passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday, December 19, 2023, surrounded by his children and their spouses. He was born April 25, 1927 in Patterson, IL to the late Aaron Elbert Barrow and Grace Viola Walker Barrow. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ann Ring Barrow, and daughter, Carol Ann Davis. In addition, he was preceded in death by sister, Bernice Yeck, brother, Amos Barrow, sister, Betty Spradlin, sister, Helen Leaverton, brother, Donald Barrow. Bill grew up in and around Jacksonville, IL. In 1944, on his 17th birthday, Bill enlisted in the US Navy. His mother had to sign his enlistment papers as Bill was too young to join on his own. Times were tough and he knew if he went into the Navy he would have regular meals and a place to sleep. After completing boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Bill was transported to San Francisco and shortly thereafter, to Pearl Harbor to board the USS Claxton, DD571 (a Fletcher Class Destroyer), thrusting him into some of the major battles in the Pacific Theater of WWII. During one of the battles, a Kamikazi plane hit the Claxton near the waterline, killing 5 men on board and injuring several others. The ship was close to sinking when the hole in her side was plugged and she managed to limp across the sea to a drydock in the Philippines for repairs. While there, Bill came down with Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease similar to Malaria. Bill never went back to sea and came back home to Jacksonville. He applied for his VA benefits and attended Bailey School of Electricity in St. Louis, MO to get a degree in Commercial Electricity, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning in 1947. Bill went to work for Mojonnier Brothers based out of Chicago, IL and serviced dairies and food and soft drink manufacturing facilities in the Midwest. Bill traveled back home to Jacksonville where he met and married Patricia Ann Ring in 1948. After they married, Bill traveled in the Midwest and Pat traveled with him. Around 1952, Bill was assigned to the northeastern territory Mojonnier and settled near their Philadelphia office. Bill started his own service company and continued to travel, moving his family to Maryland in 1966. Tired of winters traveling in ice and snow, in 1969, Bill moved his family to Florida where he worked for a refrigeration company in Tampa, and later for Coca-Cola in Miami, FL, and later Hollywood, FL. as Plant Engineer. In 1977, Bill and Pat started Barrow Systems, Inc. in Hollywood, FL and moved the business to Sharpsburg, GA in 1980. Bill and Pat retired from the day-to-day operations of the business in 1992 and began RVing soon thereafter. They traveled the US extensively and continually upgraded the manner in which they traveled. For the last 20 years, they traveled in a 40 ft. motor coach, towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind it. They spent summers in Gunnison, CO, and winters in Yuma, AZ with many points of interest in between. Bill was always proud of the fact that he took Pat to all 50 states, including Point Barrow, Alaska, and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. They left a trail of friends everywhere they went and will be missed by so many. Bill and Pat were married for nearly 68 years. A memorial service will be Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 2:00 PM in the chapel of McKoon Funeral Home, 38 Jackson Street, Newnan, GA with Deacon Steve Swope officiating. The family will greet visitors following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC or Tin Can Sailors (www.destroyers.org) in Somerset, MA. Survivors include sons, William (Tracy) Barrow of Newnan, Michael (Charlene) Barrow of Sharpsburg; daughters, Elizabeth (John) Moore of Newnan, Barbara (Steve) Harris of LaGrange, GA; grandchildren Erin (Brantley) Gilbert, Megan (Joseph) Mulheron, Lauren (Kevin) Gough, Stephanie (Zack) Stephens, Samantha (Christian) Spradlin, Andrew (Johanna) Harris, Patrick (Kathleen) Tunnell, Chad Tunnell; nine great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Sandra Newby, Jacksonville, IL, Carolyn Ring, Balwin, MO; brother-in-law, Howard Spradlin, Dearborn Heights, MI; many nieces and nephews throughout the US. Condolences may be expressed online at www.mckoon.com McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory

Billy Edward Barrow

April 25, 1927 - December 19, 2023