Ruben Lee “Groundhog” “Junior” Barb, Jr., age 82 years, a resident of Parsons, WV departed this life Wednesday morning, February 26, 2020 at his home. He had been in declining health although death was unexpected.
He was born Sunday, May 30, 1937 at Parsons, WV, a son of the late Ruben Lee Barb, Sr. and Icie Mae Thompson Barb. He was twice married. First to Eileen Cussins, who preceded him in death. On February 15, 1969 at Parsons, WV, he was married to the former Dora Pearl Shahan, who survives. They had celebrated fifty-one years of marriage.
Also surviving are one son, Ruben Lee “Beaver” Barb, III and wife Janice of Parsons; one sister, Dorothy Maditz and husband Edward of Clarksburg; two grandchildren, Kevin and Alicia Barb, both of Parsons; and a special niece, Karen Jones and husband Mark of Morgantown; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death are one brother, James Barb; and two sisters, Virginia Demski and Margaret Barb.
He attended the schools of Tucker County and was a Methodist by faith. He had worked for the Hinchcliff Lumber Co., the Polino Construction at Douglas Coal Company, the Mullenex Lumber Co., Kingsford Charcoal Co., Buffalo Coal Co, Carl Nestor Construction at the L.C. Coal Co., as a mechanic. He took the nickname “Groundhog” as his CB Handle. He loved to hunt and fish and enjoyed watching football and basketball games and especially wrestling.
The family received friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. Final rites were conducted at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 1 p.m. Rev. Pat Cassidy officiated and interment followed at the Pifer Mountain Cemetery at St. George, WV. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for Ruben Lee “Groundhog” “Junior” Barb, Jr. Condolences may be expressed to the family at; www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.