Earl H Barnard

I can’t recall a time that Uncle Earl didn’t have a smile on his warm, friendly face. Brother of my Grandmother Loraine Barnard, his name is both mine and my Father’s middle names. I don’t know if there are any or many more namesakes out there. Moving to Las Vegas so many years ago, I wished there would have been more time to spend with the relatives in Washington. He will be missed.

I will miss Uncle Earl very much. We talked on the phone every couple of weeks. My Dad and Mom Uncle Earl’s sister Loraine named me after my Uncle Earl. We were both born in November, me on the 17th, Uncle Earl on the 14th. Some people thought we were brothers because we looked and sounded so much alike.

I can remember when Uncle Earl worked with dad and mom on the farm in Hunter, Arkansas. Uncle Earl moved to Washington where his brother, our Uncle Bill, was living. In 1950 our family moved to Washington. Oh, how I remember the family get togethers and the home made ice cream.

In 1971 Sandy and I moved our family to Las Vegas, NV. On our vacations to Washington we always made a point to see Uncle Earl. In the last 6 years Uncle Earl would talk to Sandy and I about his early days in Arkansas and his adventures in other states. WOW! Uncle Earl did a lot of STUFF.

I am not saying good bye to my Uncle Earl. However, I am saying “see you later” to my Brother in Christ.

It is with a heavy heart and tears that I write my memories of “Uncle Earl” – so many all very happy ones. He was like a brother to my Dad although they were cousins. My Dad passed away one year before my wedding and I choose Uncle Earl to walk me down the ailse. If my Dad could not be there, I wanted someone he loved & was closest to. He was so proud to do it & I cannot imagine my wedding without him.All my life he called me “kid” also my sisters and brother just before we started down he said “You ready kid” – it really put me at ease as I remembered the wonderful times as a kid when we lived in Tacoma & visted him & Alice often. We always looked SO forward and to a great time usually playing Bingo – am thankful I still have pictures.He & Alice would drive a motor home all the way from Seattle to Arkansas when I was a teenager to visit-we could not WAIT until they finally arrived.I am blessed to have had Uncle Earl in my life,and wish I could see his & Dad’s happy reunion. Love,

I met Earl in 1956. I was impressed with his easy manner. He was a true Southern gentleman. He came regularly to visit his Arkansas Family. Shelby and I visited Earl and Alice in Seattle the year after the Worlds Fair. Ever the gracious host and hostess, they took us Salmon fishing in Sekiu, to dinner in the Space Needle, and a trip up Mt Rainier. A very few years ago, as I returned from an Alaskan cruise, Earl and I met for a late lunch. We talked away the evening. He loved his family. I will miss our Christmas calls. God speed you to your Heavenly Home. You will be missed!

Earl Barnard will be greatly missed. All of our family has fond memories of visting in his home in Seatle in the late 1960’s when my father was stationed at McCord AFB. My father, Gerald Brown, nephew or cousin of Earl Barnard, as Grandson of the late Raskel Barnard of Southern Illinois. Earl and his wife Alice prepared meals and were very gracious hosts as our family of my father, the late Gerald Brown, and my mother and us 4 kids visited them in their lovely home. My condolences to his family.

It was a joy to play softball against Earl, and to see him at the games at Ft. Dent after he retired from playing. He was a great person.