Barney Edward Egerer
August 10, 1918 - January 24, 2013
Obituary
Barney Edward Egerer, age 94, died in Shoreline, WA on January 24, 2013.
Born August 10, 1918 in Aberdeen, WA, to Mary Ann (Achey) and Edward John, Barney lived in Ballard from his toddler years through early adulthood, attending West Woodland Elementary, Ballard High School, and Edison Vocational School. He met his wife-to-be, Margaret Mary Healy (d. 1999), at Edison, where she studied tailoring. They lived in South Park for a couple of years with her parents until 1941, when they moved to the Maple Leaf neighborhood and had their beloved daughter Patricia Anne (d. 2010). He lived in the same home for 70 years. Barney moved to the Anderson Plaza in Shoreline in 2011. Ever a man with an open heart and growing mind, he met and loved dear new friends through every transition in life, and in his last years he found important companions at the dining table, on van rides, and in bingo games.
Barney worked from a young age, chopping wood, shoveling coal, and delivering papers. While attending Ballard High School, he worked as a telephone switchboard operator. All the while, he developed his love for crystal sets and the science of radio and repair, eventually opening his own business with a good friend. Barney was also a professional photographer for organizations including the Episcopal Church. He was an innovative service and repair person, and he worked for many years at Countner’s Record & Phonograph, Co., on the leading edge of radio, television, amplifiers, jukebox, and pinball machines around Seattle. He set up and serviced electronics and amplification during the 1962 World’s Fair. During WWII, Barney joined a team developing the electronics of B-29 weaponry at Boeing, among other projects. Barney was the go-to guy for solving complex electronic puzzles, including electrifying guitars; he often said his work with pinball machines gave him a leg up in engineering. He was an experienced HAM radio operator (W7GR) and assisted with the hydroplane races as well as search and rescue throughout the state.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 9 at St. Matthew Catholic Church (1240 NE 127th St. Seattle), with a 10 a.m. viewing and a post-service reception at the church. Interment will be at Holyrood Cemetery. Relatives and friends – new and old! – are most warmly invited to celebrate his life with us on Saturday.
I will always remember with fond memories the Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve’s I was able to spend with the family. His heart was always open and always made me feel loved. He lived a great life with a family that loved him and we will all miss him.
Here are two from Legacy.com:
Love and peace to your family. Sounds like your Grandpa was an amazing neat man Stephanie. xoxoxoxo
~ Joanna Hoyt
This was a man truly loved by his whole family.
Casey Aster-Coulter
I am my grandfather. When I look in the mirror, I see him – and I know that I would not be the man I am without him. Bapa was a teacher to me, my whole life. We always shared a passion for technology, science, and problem-solving; looking together toward the future, excited to speculate what would come next, awed by the capacity of humanity to accomplish the impossible, and then to improve upon it. From him, I learned the virtues of patience and logic, courtesy and kindness, and most importantly – wonder. I will miss our talks terribly, but I’m glad that I can still see him… in myself. I love you, Bapa.
Barney was a beloved mentor to me. I was lucky to get my first job working a summer at Countner’s at Eastlake and 10th Ave N with Barney and Jim. Like Barney, I loved crystal sets, radio repair and eventually became an BSEE (electrical engineer) in Boeing and a Technical Fellow.
Barney tried to rein in my enthusiasm to change something in a juke box we worked on. “John, when you see something a a certain way, don’t change it — it is that way for a good reason.” He was kind to me and launched my career. I never knew he lived so close to me or I would have visited him and given him a big hug and pat on the back.
There are 5 BSEE in my boys and son-in-laws. Hope to see Barney in God’s Paradise. I lost a son-in-law this week so I missed the service. The reference below confirms what I have heard from a close friend who had a similar experience – There is a loving God who embraces Barney and loves all of you. Don’t miss the book – – it will change your life.
God Bless and Cheers!
John
[Ref: Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander MD]
I was a resident at Anderson Plaza during part of the time Barney was there. He certainly got much pleasure out of participating in many of the activities offered there, unlike most of the male residents who only left their rooms to go to the dining room for meals. Barney went on many of the van rides and enjoyed conversations with anyone seated near him. On our return from the rides, which was just as lunch was beginning, he would delightfully share with the other men seated at his table all the wonderful sights he had seen.
Stephanie and Chris…
I just found this and want to tell you how sad I am for you and everyone who knew and loved your Grandpa. They were always Uncle Barney and Auntie Margaret to us and your mom was the older girl next door that we looked up to. I always thought they were the perfect family and your Grandpa loved his wife and daughter with his whole heart and soul. Our mom and your Grandpa were the last on the block and they were such good friends. They always helped each other with so many things. I believe that your Grandpa was so happy to be with your Grandma and your mom again. They will always be in our hearts…Sue