Barry Brent Bristol

Barry was born in Jackson, Michigan, on June 1, 1932, the son of Louis and Bernice (Parisot) Bristol. He graduated from Jackson High School in 1950, where he was a member of the swim team. Shortly after graduating from high school, he began working in civil aeronautics and married the girl next door, Marjorie (Fulton). Over the following decade or so, the couple would have five children together. In 1951, less than one year after graduating from high school, Barry enlisted in the United States Air Force and began training at the Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years including a year-long deployment to Korea during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955 and shortly after that, he began classes at Michigan State University. He graduated from MSU with a Bachelor of Arts from the Michigan Agricultural college. During this time, he also worked for his in-laws Gordon and Harriet Fulton at Fulton Radio Supply Co. in Lansing eventually serving as the company’s vice president. He worked there until 1980, after which he continued his career in electronic sales for several years. In 1985, he lost his first wife, Marjorie, to cancer after more than 30 years of marriage. A few years later, in 1989, he married Sharon (Schmaltz) Bristol. Before fully retiring, Barry was a substitute teacher for Lansing area schools.

Barry was a devoted and sentimental family man and truly enjoyed the simple things in life. He loved to swim and captain his boat in the Great Lakes during the summer months especially with his kids and grandkids. Barry enjoyed researching his family history and lineage and managed to trace his family line back several generations predating the Revolutionary War. He loved watching and feeding the animals through his large family room window and always had a feeder full of peanuts for the local squirrels. He was also quite the handyman and would often find unconventional ways to fix a car engine or household problem much to the amusement and bewilderment of his friends and family. When a Detroit Lions or Detroit Tigers game was going on, family knew where he could be found as he always enjoyed watching a game from his favorite recliner especially when family was around to join him.

Barry’s life will be forever cherished by his wife Sharon Bristol, his 5 children: Barry Jr. “Chip” Bristol of Lansing, MI; Sheryl (Marv) DeKett of Eaton Rapids, MI; Julie (Kurt) Feight of Mt. Pleasant, MI; Brian (Ofelia) Bristol of Lansing, MI; and Scott Bristol of Lansing, MI; his two step-children James (Meaghan) Schmaltz of Dewitt, MI; and Joel (Robin) Schmaltz of North Myrtle Beach, SC; his nine grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

His passing is preceded by his grandson, Jeffrey DeKett, his first wife, Marjorie (Fulton), his sister Lurene (Bristol) Mink, and his parents, Louis and Bernice (Parisot) Bristol.

A private graveside service will be held for the family on Friday, September 27, 2019, at the Woodland Cemetery in Jackson. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made online at hospiceoflansing.org or by mail to: Hospice of Lansing, 3186 Pine Tree Rd., Suite 1, Lansing, MI 48911.