Harold (Barney) Francis Barnhill, age 94, of East Galesburg, Ill. died at 8:55 pm Saturday, June 15, 2013 in Knox County Nursing Home, Knoxville, Ill.
He was born on December 20, 1918, on the family farm near Hurdland, Mo., to Franklin Mathew and Ella Frances (Shepard) Barnhill.
He moved from the farm to Kirksville, Mo. (for 2yrs) then was raised in Atlanta, Mo., except 1924, when he spent 1 year in East Galesburg, Ill. where he attended the 1st grade at Highland School.
Harold joined the NYA (National Youth Assn.) and worked around the Atlanta area. In the 8th grade, Harold decided to quit school and join the 3 C's (Civilian Conservation Corps) and worked across Northern Missouri, and outside Mountain Home, Idaho, and later worked on the WPA (Works Progress Administration).
After the Dec. 7th, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the USA entered into WW 2, Harold was drafted Feb.5th, 1942 and was sworn in at Macon, Mo. He was sent to the St Louis School of Aeronautics at Lambert field, St. Louis, Mo. for 15 weeks of schooling where he completed a mechanical course on rebuilding all kinds of airplane engines. Harold served in WWII from 1942-1945 in the Army Air Force, in the 7th 8th 9th Army, in England, France, and Germany. He received the Rifle Marksman badge, the Good Conduct medal and ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Champaign medal and ribbon, Victory Medal World War II and ribbon, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, and the Air Assault Badge.
Harold Francis Barnhill married Iva Lucille Cotton on August 16th, 1942 in Macon, Mo. After returning from WW 2 he worked as a painter for 1 year in Mo. and at the East Galesburg (Purington) Brickyard before starting at Butler Manufacturing Company in 1947 until retiring after 34 years in 1981.
He was a member of BAD2 (Base Air Depot # 2) Association.
Harold and Iva have lived over 66 years in East Galesburg.
Surviving is his wife of 70 years, Iva L. Barnhill; four daughters and son-in-laws, Phyllis and Howard Gibson of Knoxville, Ill., Susie and Bill Connour of Elmwood, Neb, Fran and Steve Scharfenberg of Knoxville, Ill, and Carol and John Shotts of Galesburg, Ill.; 8 Grandchildren, 13 Great Grandchildren, and 1 Great Great Grandchild; his nephew, Gary Barnhill and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and his dear friend Peter Coyle of Blackpool, England. He is preceded in death by his father and mother (Frank and Ella Shepard Barnhill), brother (Elwood Barnhill), two sons (Harold Lee and Harold Frances Jr.).
Memorial services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, September 16, 2013, at Linville Cemetery in Edina, MO.