Buster was born on November 15, 1936 in Macon, Georgia to Arthur P. Barry, Sr. and Texas Roughton Barry. He was a student at Joseph Clisby then Lanier High School and later graduated from Georgia Tech where he was a member of SAE fraternity.
Buster married his childhood sweetheart Carolyn Wade, on December 21, 1958. This was to be their 60th wedding anniversary. Buster cherished his bride. While serving in the US Navy Air as an officer they lived in Hawaii where their son Art was born. In 1962 they returned to Macon where he worked with his father at Len Bergs Restaurant. Later he started an all take-out restaurant he named Pick-Up Meals by Barry. In 1964, their second child Texas was born which rounded out Buster’s family.
Buster’s interests included reading, golf, fishing and bridge. His friends were varied and he cherished each one. Buster had the unique desire to understand people and to be a real friend. He used his original style of wit to entertain those around him.
Buster Barry was proud of his hometown, Macon. It was important to him that he contribute much of his time and talents to various community organizations in hopes of improving their effectiveness. These included The Boy Scouts of America, Goodwill Industries, Friends of the Library. He also made efforts to expand business opportunities within Macon by serving as President of the Cherry Blossom Festival, Forward Macon, Macon Board of Realtors, Idle Hour Country Club and Macon Civic Club. As a Georgia Tech graduate he was proud of his “Jackets” and later served as a trustee and alumni chairman for many years. Buster was a member of Vineville United Methodist Church and was a previous member of Christ Episcopal Church.
Along with another partner, Buster began a commercial real estate brokerage company called Eberhardt and Barry. He enjoyed this business and other commercial real estate development for almost 30 years. Along the way he partnered with others to found Macon Bank and Trust which was later acquired by First Atlanta/Wachovia Bank on whose boards he served as well.
He was also a frustrated farmer who enjoyed every season from his Ford tractor. He especially enjoyed spending a day on his pond fishing with his beloved wife, friends and family or playing on the beach in Fernandina.
Buster was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, his son Art (Jan), daughter Texas Cates (Pete) and his grandchildren Patrick, (Amber), Russ and Reid Barry, Nancy Carolyn Adair (Kyle), Mariah and Peter Cates and one great-grandchild, Arthur P. Barry, V (Abel). Also survived by his sister Patsy Hopkins and her children.
A Celebration of his Life will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday at Vineville United Methodist Church with private burial in Riverside Cemetery. Dr. Laudis H. "Rick" Lanford and Rev. Grace Guyton will officiate. The family will greet friends following the service in the sanctuary and asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the donor's favorite charity.
Visit www.snowscs.com to express tributes.
Snow's Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.
