Obituary for Richard Barnhart
Richard Herbert Barnhart, 92, of Decatur, passed away Saturday, November 5, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital.
A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, December 10, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home with visitation from 11:30 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Inurnment will be at a later date in Graceland Cemetery. Memorials in Richard’s honor may be given locally to Grace UMC for TV ministry, the Macon County Animal Shelter, VFW Post #99 and the Democratic Party.
Richard was born July 7, 1930, in Decatur, son of Herbert Christopher and Mary Josephine Peniwell Barnhart. He married Carol Kathryn Gobert on June 3, 1951 at Grace United Methodist Church in Decatur.
Richard was quite the storyteller in his later years. His family loved to listen to his stories as they were the bridge between the father/grandfather they knew, and the person Richard was in his youth. They learned how a young man fell in love with his future wife of 71 years. They learned about that young man’s time in Germany when he proudly served our country with the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. They learned more than they probably wanted to about tires during his 24 years of service with Bridgestone/Firestone, but they are grateful for the knowledge he passed along. That knowledge came in many forms. His children often recall discussions about politics and policy, how to fix an engine, and how to be frugal. They also learned that being the son of a butcher does not mean you will be a good butcher. He was relegated to delivering groceries from the family’s Cash Market with his sister Barbara. Richard also loved to spend time in nature. This was evident in the walks he took with Carol both at home and on the many camping trips they took with family, his time as a Boy Scout Leader as well as his years as a lifeguard in the water and his time on the water canoeing or in his small sailboat. He was a member of Grace UMC for 80 years, the VFW upon his return from Germany and the Al-Anon Family Group. He enjoyed reading, especially Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines, eating a good meal, singing familiar songs, and was an animal lover; but his greatest joy was spending time with his family.
Richard is survived by his wife of 71 years, Carol; children: Susan Loretta Barnhart of Decatur, Richard Lawrence Barnhart (Lisa Smith) of Kansas City, MO, and David Scott Barnhart (Belinda) of Champaign; grandchildren: Matthew (Cindy), Stacey (Lee), Natalee, Melanee (Jeremiah), Michael (Cheyenne), and Baylee; great-grandchildren: Jayda, Jade, Chance, Cash, Jacob, Brinlee, Elliott and Parker: great-great-grandchild: Isabella; nephews: Jon Gustin, Craig Gustin, Christopher Gobert, Jon Gobert, Dan Gobert and Dave Gobert; nieces: Ann Bert and Katharin Brown; cousins: Gary Barnhart, Mark Barnhart, Alan Barnhart, Jay Tom Peniwell, Bob Grimson and Linda Seibert Parsons.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Barbara Ann Barnhart Gustin.
A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, December 10, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home with visitation from 11:30 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Inurnment will be at a later date in Graceland Cemetery. Memorials in Richard’s honor may be given locally to Grace UMC for TV ministry, the Macon County Animal Shelter, VFW Post #99 and the Democratic Party.
Richard was born July 7, 1930, in Decatur, son of Herbert Christopher and Mary Josephine Peniwell Barnhart. He married Carol Kathryn Gobert on June 3, 1951 at Grace United Methodist Church in Decatur.
Richard was quite the storyteller in his later years. His family loved to listen to his stories as they were the bridge between the father/grandfather they knew, and the person Richard was in his youth. They learned how a young man fell in love with his future wife of 71 years. They learned about that young man’s time in Germany when he proudly served our country with the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. They learned more than they probably wanted to about tires during his 24 years of service with Bridgestone/Firestone, but they are grateful for the knowledge he passed along. That knowledge came in many forms. His children often recall discussions about politics and policy, how to fix an engine, and how to be frugal. They also learned that being the son of a butcher does not mean you will be a good butcher. He was relegated to delivering groceries from the family’s Cash Market with his sister Barbara. Richard also loved to spend time in nature. This was evident in the walks he took with Carol both at home and on the many camping trips they took with family, his time as a Boy Scout Leader as well as his years as a lifeguard in the water and his time on the water canoeing or in his small sailboat. He was a member of Grace UMC for 80 years, the VFW upon his return from Germany and the Al-Anon Family Group. He enjoyed reading, especially Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines, eating a good meal, singing familiar songs, and was an animal lover; but his greatest joy was spending time with his family.
Richard is survived by his wife of 71 years, Carol; children: Susan Loretta Barnhart of Decatur, Richard Lawrence Barnhart (Lisa Smith) of Kansas City, MO, and David Scott Barnhart (Belinda) of Champaign; grandchildren: Matthew (Cindy), Stacey (Lee), Natalee, Melanee (Jeremiah), Michael (Cheyenne), and Baylee; great-grandchildren: Jayda, Jade, Chance, Cash, Jacob, Brinlee, Elliott and Parker: great-great-grandchild: Isabella; nephews: Jon Gustin, Craig Gustin, Christopher Gobert, Jon Gobert, Dan Gobert and Dave Gobert; nieces: Ann Bert and Katharin Brown; cousins: Gary Barnhart, Mark Barnhart, Alan Barnhart, Jay Tom Peniwell, Bob Grimson and Linda Seibert Parsons.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Barbara Ann Barnhart Gustin.