John R. "Bob" Barrett

John R. “Bob” Barrett, 79 of Galesburg, died at 6:55 a.m. Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at Seminary Manor.   Bob was born on August 24, 1929 in Canton, the son of John E. and Edith F. Coleman Barrett. He married Virginia Knox on September 23, 1953 in Olympia, WA.  Surviving Bob are his wife, Virginia of Galesburg; a son, Tom (Sheila) of East Galesburg; 3 grandchildren, J.B. Barrett of East Galesburg, Katy Barrett of Blandinsville, and Courtney Barrett of Rock Island.  Also surviving are a brother, Paul E. Barrett, of Astoria; and a sister, BettyCassel of Astoria.  He was preceded in death by 2 sisters.   Bob served in the US Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean Conflict. He farmed and was a locomotive engineer for Burlington Northern Railroad for many years retiring in 1990. He was a long time member of Harold Hoops American Legion Post #17 in Ipava. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Corpus Christi Catholic Church.    Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Watson Funeral Home, with the Rev. Deus-Dedit Byabato officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285 honor guard. Memorials may be made to the Bukoba Diocese.