Melvin Arthur “Art” Barr
Melvin Arthur “Art” Barr, age 82, currently of Shelby and lifelong rural Ashland resident, died Friday, September 28, 2018 at his home.
Art was born September 15, 1936 in Ashland, the son of the late Ben and Mary (Helbert) Barr. He was a 1955 graduate of Ashland High School and later attended Kent State University and The Ohio State University where he earned teaching certificates. Art was a veteran, serving in the Air National Guard in Mansfield for eight years where he trained as a firefighter. He was a meat cutter by trade, first managing the meat department at Kroger for many years before becoming the meat cutting instructor at Pioneer Career and Technology Center in Shelby. He taught there for over 25 years, where he had also been the FFA advisor, and retired in 2001. At his retirement party, he was recruited to continue utilizing his skills by working for Turk Brothers Custom Meats in Ashland and worked with them for over 15 years.
Art gave his time generously to serve the community. He was a volunteer firefighter at Nankin/Orange Township Fire Department for over 40 years and served as their Chief for over 15 of those years. He was proud to serve on the Arson Task Force and to have attended the National Fire Academy for several different trainings. With Mapleton Local Schools, Art served several terms on the school board and was active in the band boosters. He was an Ashland County Fair Director for over 30 years, where he never missed a fair, and was a member of the Polk Lions Club and Ashland American Legion. He was also a member of Nankin Federated Church and attended First Lutheran Church in Shelby.
Art loved to fish in Canada and on Lake Erie and could tell a great fishing story with the best of them. To all who knew Art, he was “nearly perfect.” He was a huge fan of the Cleveland Indians and The Ohio State University Buckeyes. His favorite thing was to attend school and sporting events for all his grandchildren and he loved his faithful canine companion, Charlie.
On June 21, 1997, Art married Mary Lee (Hannafus) Barr and she survives, along with: 4 children: Ann (Larry) Kleilein of Delaware, Andrew (Jodie) Hopkins of Delaware, Heather (Rob) Fighter of Shelby, and Heidi (Jeff) Fedrizzi of Lake Oswego, OR; 8 grandchildren: Lane and Luke Kleilein, Drew Hopkins, Morgan and Madeline Baker, and Enzio, Jake, and Abbi Fedrizzi; a sister: Thelma (Tom) Barr Keener of Ashland, and their children: Jenny Barrick, and Katy, Guy and John Keener; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Patsy (Scott) Barr in 1996.
Family and friends are welcome on Monday, October 1, 2018 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the PENWELL TURNER FUNERAL HOME, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, where funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday at 10 am. Pastor Rus Yoak will officiate, and burial will follow in Ashland Cemetery where military honors will be conducted by the Ashland Veterans Honor Guard. Memorial contributions may be made to Pioneer Career and Technology Center for a scholarship to be set up in Art’s honor or to the Nankin/Orange Township Volunteer Fire Department.
To share a memory or express a condolence, please visit: www.PenwellTurner.com
We are so sorry to hear of Art’s passing. Mary Lee you and all your family are in our thoughts and prayers. Hugs. Mary Ellen & Ron
Sending our love and hugs during this time as you celebrate the amazing life of your dad. Art holds a special place in our hearts as we were introduced in 1980. We will celebrate his life with you from afar
Rest in Peace dear cousin… we as family had a lot of shared times together , picnics, holidays…… times will always remember. Love you, your cousin Carol
Mary Lee,
We are so very sorry for your loss & we hold you and your family in our thoughts at this difficult time. ~Aaliya & Rodney Lewis
I am so sorry for your loss. Art was a pleasure to be around.
Jim and I will greatly miss Art with his always friendly and often humorous spirit. He loved people and we loved him back! Praying for you Aunt Mary Lee.
So sorry to hear about Art have missed seeing him at our Lions meeting and sure did love him
Sorry to hear of Art’s passing. I will always remember his great sense of humor. He was so much fun to be around and was very helpful to me my first year at Pioneer. Hugs!
I have known Art for almost my whole life. Art and Patsy lived beside my family on Banning Ave. when they were first married. I watched them grow into a family and a young Ann running and playing in the backyard. I saw the time they put into building their house in the country. Years later as an Ashland firefighter I worked with Art on fire scenes, arson investigations and saw his devotion to the Nankin Fire Dept. Art was quite a guy. Rest In Peace my friend, follow firefighter and military veteran. Duane & Vickie Fishpaw
Art was a truly memorable friend,teacher,father,grandfather,uncle,and mentor to many.A great husband to ML and one of the funniest people I ever met!
Ann and Family…your Dad was always the nicest! I enjoyed getting to know him over the years that I served on the Jr. Fair Board and when serving Ashland Co. 4-H Committee for Ashland 4-H Program. It was just nice to have someone that was so supportive of the Jr. Fair on the Sr. Fair Board…I remember some really good times and laughs when you were Jr. Fair Sec. and the office was located in the Jr. Fair Bldg. and your Dad would come in and check on everyone! It was a pleasure and an honor to say I knew Mr. Art Barr! Thanks for sharing your Dad with us over the years! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers at this time. He will live on in the memories in our hearts!
Thoughts and prayers to the family.
I worked with Art at Pioneer and loved his sense of humor. He was dedicated to the school and to his students. He was a man of many talents and will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. God bless and comfort his family.
Again, I’m so sorry to hear of Art’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Mary Lee so very sorry to learn of Art’s passing. you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
So sorry for your lost. My condolences to you and your family during this time of sorrow. May Art rest in peace.
Dear Mary Lee and Family,
As you know, Art and I go back to the opening of “The New Building” at Pioneer. He and I enjoyed each other’s sense of humor and he never failed to bring a smile or chuckle. He loved I always called him “Art The Fart”, and after retiring from Pioneer and came back to sub, he always made sure he stopped by to see how I was doing. He would tell me all the community volunteer activities he was involved in, as well as always having a good joke for me. I know how much he’ll be missed by his community and neighbors, but most of all, by you, his dear family.
God bless, my buddy, Art and you, Mary Lee.
Sincerely,
Jo Ann
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Mary Lee, and your family.
Ann,
So sorry about your father. I didn’t know you were from Ashland. I think our dads may have known each other. My dad was in the air national guard at Mansfield. My condolensces to your family.
Jeanna Brooks Burrell
Mary Lee and family, My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I was so sorry to hear that Art had passed away. I have many memories of Art as he sat behind me in 61C for a while. If you were down he always knew how to put a smile on your face. I will forever be grateful to him for his interest in all the kids that he helped at Pioneer. He took them under his wing and especially my son Matt. He offered so much helpful advise and I think that is why Matt is where he is today because he had someone show they cared. I will not be at calling hours or the funeral in person, but I will be thinking for all of you. I last saw Art in August at Carrie’s when I was there for a hair cut and I want to remember him that way. Love to all the family
Mary Lee and family, So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you at this very difficult time.
I met Art early in my career. Went to EMT school with him,and fought many fures with him as well. Be was a great man to talk to,and you never heard a bad word from bus mouth when discussing other people. He was a good leader,and always made the effort to make sure everyone would return safely from all incidents. RIP Art. You will be missed.
Mary Lee and family,
So sorry to hear of Art’s passing. He and I shared an office for a while when I was first at Pioneer and I always enjoyed his graciousness and gentle sense of humor. May God rest his soul and comfort his family.
Jim Sorenson
I am one of Art’s former students. I have a lifetime of memories of Mr Barr. I remember the manny of road trips going to the F F A meat judging contests. He was very proud when our Pioneer team won the state competition in 1989. He was a good teacher and a good trainer of work ethic. He was definitely a one of a kind. My prayers are with your family. Clay Husbands
Out thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Art was a good man.
Chris and Sheri Hicks
Anne and family,
Please know that you and your family are in our prayers. We pray for your peace, love and understanding as you walk through this journey. We will be thinking of you trust in God and he will give you peace.
Cousin,
Mariellen (Hyatt) Theaker and family
Mary Lee and family,
We are so sad to learn of Art’s passing. Art was a good guy and will be greatly missed. May God grant you comfort and peace at his homegoing.
Kip and Deb Stevens
Mary Lee:
I am so sorry to hear of your husband “Art” passing. Although I didn’t not know him, I was one of your classmates of 1966..I wanted to express my sympathy to you and your family.
I always enjoyed visiting with Mr. Barr at the Ashland County Airport. I only thought I knew him but after viewing the obit., I wasn’t even close. What a class gentleman and just the kind of person this country was built on. This community has been well served by this man and he will be missed greatly.
Sincerely,
Joe Kessler
Sorry to hear about the death of your husband, Mary Lee. May God hold you in his hand and comfort you at this difficult time.
Joanne Wrasse
Mary Lee,
I am very sorry for your loss.
Sharon