W. Stuart Barr

Reverend W. Stuart Barr, age 99, formerly of New Philadelphia died Friday, May 8, 2015 in Park Village Health Care Center at Dover.

A son of the late Walter Stuart and Nell McEachern Barr, Stuart was born on March 1, 1916 in Greenville, South Carolina.

A graduate of George Washington High School in New York City, Stuart received his bachelor degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and then graduated from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He was ordained as a Presbyterian Minister by the New York Presbytery in 1941. He served the Hermitage group of Churches in Nashville, Tennessee and then entered into the United States Navy where he served as Chaplain for four years during World War II. After his honorable discharge, he became the Assistant Minister at West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood New Jersey, later the Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Ohio, and finally Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at New Philadelphia, where he served from 1959 until his retirement in 1981. Following his retirement, Stuart served the First United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia as visitation minister and the New Harrisburg Presbyterian Church in New Harrisburg, Ohio as interim pastor.

Reverend Barr has served as moderator of the Old Wooster Presbytery and the Muskingum Valley Presbytery. He was a member of the Ministerial Relations Committee, Pension Committee, Special Relations Committee, Synod Committee and was a commissioner during two General Assemblies.

He has been active in community affairs through the Dover-New Philadelphia Ministerial Association and the New Philadelphia Health Board. He served as President of the United Way Board and was a recipient of the Vic Marsh Service award for campaign workers. He has also been a 50 plus year member of the New Philadelphia Lions Club.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Fouts Barr, whom he married on June 10, 2004; two daughters, Kathy (John) Albright of North Canton and Patsy (Pat) Mezzulo of Washington State; a granddaughter, Angie Mezzulo; step children, Susan (Robert) Banker of Strasburg and Douglas (Jill) Fouts of Solon, Ohio; three step-grandchildren, Jennifer (Tom) Hostetler, Ryan Still, and Kristen Fouts; two step-great-grandsons, Drew and Brennan Hostetler and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Stuart was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Willcox Barr and three brothers, Rev. James Barr, Frank Barr and Dr. Byrd Barr.

Visitation will be held Tuesday May 12 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home and Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church, 217 East High Ave New Philadelphia, with the Rev. Hugh B. Berry officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the East Avenue Cemetery at New Philadelphia. A time of fellowship will follow the services in the church fellowship hall.

Memorial contributions in Stuart’s memory may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.