Jerry L. Barber

Jerry L. Barber, age 80, of Shelby, died Sunday morning, December 4, 2022 at his home with his loving family at his side.

Jerry was born July 3, 1942 in Shelby to the late Claud and Edna L. (Richardson) Barber. A 1961 graduate of Shelby High School, Jerry became a journeyman electrician and started working for Buchman Electrical in Mansfield in the construction field. While with Buchman, Jerry helped build the first building on North Central Technical College’s campus, Shelby High School, Bucyrus High School, and Pioneer Joint Vocational School. Following Buchman’s, Jerry owned his own electrical company, Barber Electric, all while being a bus mechanic and driver for Shelby schools. A call from a former Buchman customer let him know about a position needing filled at Shelby Memorial Hospital which he applied for and was offered. Jerry spent a 30-year career at Shelby Hospital as their Director of Engineering from where he would retire in 2004 under the MedCentral leadership.

A true building engineer at heart, Jerry always had lots of projects to keep him busy even so much as building their family home and several buildings on their property. He was a longtime member of the Shelby Jaycees and had served on the Pioneer School Board and Richland County Waste Management Board. Jerry was also a longtime member of the First Christian Church in Shelby and, most recently, Grace Point in Galion.

Jerry was a man who loved his family and time spent with them, especially camping and traveling, brought him much joy. His wife of 59 years, Rebecca S. (Hursh) Barber, whom he wed on October 26, 1963, survives. Also surviving are a daughter: Dawn Barber Burkholder (friend, Tom Heinlen) of Galion; a son: Kurt B. Barber of Colorado; grandson: James Michael Burkholder; sisters: Joan (Ken) Jones of Bellville and Brenda (Lawrence) Dininger of Mansfield; sister-in-law: Bonnie (Ben) Niles of Florida; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. In addition to his parents, Jerry was sure to have been greeted in heaven by his son, Trent B. Barber, who passed in 1987 and son-in-law, Dr. Michael D. Burkholder, who passed in 2004.

Family and friends are welcome on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 from 3-6 pm at the Penwell Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, where funeral services will immediately follow at 6 pm. Pastor Paul Walter, Pastor of Grace Point Church, will officiate the services. His burial will eventually be with his son, Trent, in Oakland Cemetery, Shelby. For those wishing, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Point (683 Portland Way N, Galion, OH 44833), Team Focus (c/o Rocky Alt, 6679 Henschend Circle, Westerville, Ohio 43082), Southern Care Hospice, (https://www.gentivahs.com/about/donate/), or First Christian Church in Shelby.

Online condolences may be left on Jerry’s obituary on the funeral home’s website, www.PenwellTurner.com, or their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PenwellFuneral

To view Jerry’s tribute video, click on this link provided: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/R9DC3ZRMFX7NSY94