William J. Barfield's Obituary
William Joseph (Bill) Barfield, 86, died October 3, 2013 after a long illness. He was born December 22, 1926, to Hettie Kirkpatrick Barfield and Walter Hammond Barfield, Sr. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the Army in Germany. He was a long-time member of Union Avenue/Woodland Hills Church of Christ. He attended Humes High School, Memphis, and University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he majored in Engineering. He was retired from South Central Bell Telephone Company after over 37 years of service. During that time he was selected to participate in the development of the Defense Early Warning System (DEW Line) near Fairbanks, Alaska. That experience endeared him to the state of Alaska, which led to six vacation trips to Alaska with his wife Wilma, covering most of the entire vast state. He had many interests and talents, including ham radio, electronics, radio-controlled model airplanes, and photography. He built a full-size 1929 Mercedes convertible “kit” car, using chassis and parts from several Volkswagens. He was a member of the former Marine Rescue Squadron, using his boat to asssist in rescuing people and boats from the Mississippi River. He was a kind and generous person. He freely built or repaired many things for many people and gave generously to people in need. He had a quiet and mischievous spirit. He is survived by his wife Wilma, one sister Virginia Fontenot of Lafayette, La., and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Beverly Frankum Barfield, and his brother Walter H. Barfield, Jr. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, October 5 at Memorial Park Funeral Home, with services following at 11:30 a.m. Memorials may be sent to Woodland Hills Church of Christ, 10011 Woodland Hills Drive, Cordova, TN 38018, or to donor’s choice.Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, (901)767-8930, “Behind the Stone Wall”.
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