Ethan Allen Barnard

Ethan Allen Barnard, 98, of Valdosta died Monday, July 6, 2015, at the Presbyterian Home in Quitman.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois, August 11, 1916, to the late Henry Harrison Barnard and Katherine Margaret Rose Barnard, a German immigrant. A retired supervisor for the Gould Battery Company in Kankakee, Illinois, he had been a resident of Brooks County for the past 32 years, moving there from Dunedin, Florida where he had resided for fourteen years.
Mr. Barnard enjoyed playing the guitar and entertaining his friends and family with his beautiful singing voice. Raised in the Baptist faith, his song writer mother encouraged his singing with voice lessons and involvement in his church choir. His favorite hymns included "A Closer Walk With Thee", "The Old Rugged Cross" and "In The Garden".
Mr. Barnard was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII (Co. "D" 169th Inf.), serving two years, eleven months and fourteen days in battles and campaigns in New Guinea, Guadalcanal, the Northern Solomons, and Luzon. Among the decorations and the citations he received were the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and ribbon w/four bronze service stars, the Bronze Arrowhead, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/one bronze star, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, the Bronze Star Medal for bravery, and the WWII Victory Medal and Ribbon.
Mr. Barnard returned to the United States in 1945 at wars end suffering greatly from malaria. While he was overseas, his fiancé Barbara Gramse was working at the University of Chicago as a laboratory technician. She was given a certificate for her involvement in malaria research under the Office of Scientific Research and Development in Washington, D.C. This research contributed to the successful prosecution of the Second World War. He married Barbara the following year.
In May of 2007, Mr. Barnard flew to the WWII Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. on the first Honor Flight from Valdosta. He was accompanied by his daughter, Deborah, who served as a guardian for him and two other veterans. All were greeted by Senator Robert Dole who assisted in the laying of the state Flag at the Georgia portion of the memorial. Mr. Barnard was a member of the American Legion Post 13 in Valdosta.
Mr. Barnard was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Jane (Gramse) Barnard; an infant son Lawrence Allen Barnard; sisters Aletha and Lorene Barnard, and Zanita Barnard Wulfers Serra; brothers Leslie Barnard and Norman Barnard; sisters-in-law Marguerite Barnard and Laura Barnard Milk, niece Laura Ann Barnard Humphrey, niece Wilma Lou Gregor, and nephew Leslie C. Barnard, Jr.
Mr. Barnard is survived by daughter Deborah Lyn Barnard of Valdosta, and sons Barry A. Barnard (Christine) of Lowell, Indiana and Leonard O. Barnard (Rachael) of St. Petersburg, Florida; granddaughters Toni M. Barnard (husband Thomas McCarthy) of Wilmington, Delaware; Atty. Nicole R. Barnard Occhuizzo (husband Atty. Michael) of Arlington, Virginia; Tonya Adkins of Abingdon, Virginia; Leandra Barnard of Dunedin, Florida; great granddaughter Scarlett Faith Barnard, Dunedin of Dunedin, Florida, nieces Lois Barnard Johnson (George) of Aroma Park, Illinois; Katherine Barnard Jensen (Harvey) of Chicago, Illinois; Carol Wulfers Hanley of Clarendon Hills, Illinois, and nephew Spencer A. Barnard (Mary Ann) of Bourbonnais, Illinois. He is also survived by beloved "grand-dogs" Lacey and Abby and "grand-cats" Mildred and Chloe.
He was laid to rest in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens in Valdosta, Georgia with his wife Barbara, whose cremains were interred with him in his casket. Donations may be made in Ethan's name to the Humane Society of Valdosta or to the Lowndes County Animal Shelter. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.






Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602