EVELYN RUTH KEISTER BARR, age 97 years, a resident of Parsons, WV, left this world to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, early Monday morning, December 13, 2010 at Cortland Acres Nursing Home at Thomas, WV.
She was born Saturday, December 13, 1913 at Lanesville, WV, a daughter of the late Isaac and Sarah Robby Keister. On September 10, 1932 at Holly Meadows, WV, she was married to Dale Cecil Barr, who preceded her in death September 9, 1990. They had celebrated fifty nine years of marriage.
Surviving are two daughters, Madonna “Donnie” DiBacco and husband Jerry, and Judy Fairbanks and the late Terry Fairbanks, all of Parsons; one sister, Hazel Murphy of VA; seven grandsons, “Butch” and Joseph DiBacco, Robert, Danny, Patrick, Michael and Timothy Fairbanks, two granddaughters, Tina McWilliams and Terra Hamrick, twenty three great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death are one infant son, Philip Dale Barr; one daughter, Joan Carolyn Barr; five brothers, Grover, Ole, Austin, Roy and Fred Keister; five sisters, Mervie Keister, Kate Raines, Lona Long, Ratie Lipscomb and Lena Plauger; one grandson Anthony Scott Fairbanks.
She was a graduate of Parsons High School with the Class of 1932, and later received an Emergency Teaching Certificate as a substitute teacher at the Pine Grove School. She was an employer of the former Dorman Woolen Mill and later became a business partner with her husband in Barr’s TV and Appliance. They owned the first franchise to bring cable television into Tucker County. She was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church, where she was presented a lifetime membership by the United Methodist Women’s Conference and was also a winner of the “Mother of the Year Award” She also served past President of the Holly Meadows 4-h and Farm Women’s Club. She was well known for her “Blue Ribbon Awards” for her homemade bread during County Fairs. She was also a tailor/seamstress and also was elected to the Parsons High School Hall of Fame. Following the Flood of 1985, she and her husband opened their home to five different families who were involved in the flood. She was known to the younger generations as “Grandma Barr”.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 from 5 to 8 PM. Final rites will be conducted at the funeral home parlor Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 11:30AM. The Rev. John Morrison and The Rev. Father Timothy Grassi will officiate and interment will follow at the Bethel Cemetery at Holly Meadows.
