Donald Ray Barbee Sr.

Donald Ray Barbee, Sr., 88, of Salisbury, passed away Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice House, Winston-Salem. Born September 8, 1930 in Woodleaf, he was the son of the late Pearl Freeman Barbee and William Raymond Barbee. He was educated in the Woodleaf school system, graduated from Woodleaf High School, Class of 1949 and attended Rowan Technical College. Mr. Barbee was a veteran of the US Coast Guard stationed in Guam during the Korean Era. He was Postmaster at the Woodleaf Post Office before retiring in 1995. Mr. Barbee was a member of Cleveland United Methodist Church, the Harold B. Jarrett American Legion Post 342, Cooleemee VFW Post, and the Woodleaf Civitan Club where he served as Treasurer for a number of years. He helped organize Boy Scout Troop 320 in Woodleaf. An avid Honda Goldwing motorcyclist, he loved to travel, and play his Gibson guitar, tell a good story and make people laugh. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his former wife, Vida Hammond Barbee; brothers, Lee, Brady and Martin Barbee; a sisters, Irene Miller and Pearl Faye Barbee; grandchildren Bobby Schenk and Brittany Luther; great-grandchild Hunter Schenk. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jean Luther Barbee, whom he married May 22, 1992; children, Donald “Ray” Barbee, Jr. (Lisa) of White House, TN, Libby Owens (Tom) of Woodleaf, Jane Barbee of Salisbury, Sherry Schenk of Woodleaf, Galen Luther (Frances) of Statesville and Shawn Luther Carpenter (Cam) of Belmont; sister, Catherine Gray (James) of Woodleaf; brothers, Frank Barbee (Bonnie), Ed Barbee, and Fred Barbee (Shirley) all of Woodleaf; thirteen grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be conducted 1 PM – Monday (Dec. 31) at the Salisbury VA National Cemetery, Statesville Blvd., with the Rev. Sybil Perrell, minister of Cleveland United Methodist Church officiating. Military Graveside Rites will be conducted by the Lyerly Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be considered to Trellis Supportive Care, 104 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, The Arbor United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 5545 Woodleaf Rd., Salisbury, NC 28147 or the charity of the donor's choice. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Barbee family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Donald Ray Barbee Sr.

September 8, 1930 - December 26, 2018