Charles (Charlie) Adam Barbier

Charles (Charlie) Adam Barbier, born on September 27, 1918, entered the Gates of Heaven, 10 days before his 105th birthday, on ¬¬¬September 17,2023, after a short illness. Beloved and adored husband of the late Dorothy (Dotsie) Sigur Barbier, and happily married for 66 years. Cherished father of Kathryn Barbier Dean and Debra Barbier Turoff (Craig). Treasured grandfather of Ashley Anne Upchurch (Ian) and Kristen Stewart Upchurch (Erik). Predeceased by his loving parents, Charles Joseph Adam Barbier and Marie Sidalese Waguespack, and his sisters Adelta, Hilda, Eunice, Louise, and Georgine. Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He served in the 8th Air Force in World War 2 stationed at Ridgewell Air Base outside of London, England. During that time, he led a team of airplane mechanics, in their off-duty hours, to rebuild a B-17 bomber called Big Mike, which crashed returning from a mission in Germany. Having trained at Boeing, and only having access to spare parts of other crashed planes, Charles figured out how to make a hydraulic airplane wing work with a mechanical wing. When the plane was completed, the test pilot said it was the smoothest plane he had ever flown. The plane was recommissioned and renamed by Charles’s commanding officer, Frenchy’s Folly, in honor of Charles, who was nicknamed Frenchy by his military friends, due to his southern Louisiana roots. Frenchy’s Folly safely flew 100 more missions during the war and Charles was considered a hero in World War 2. His story has been written in books, newspapers, and was reported in Ted Malone’s Westinghouse newsreels which were popular during that period. After the war, Charles attended Tulane University, and sometimes worked 2 jobs to take care of his family. He and Dotsie traveled extensively throughout their marriage and were completely devoted to each other and their daughters and granddaughters. In recent years, he appeared on the Today Show, in the New York Post, and in the Baltimore Sun. Charles never knew a stranger, and children and animals loved him. A good and honorable man, who will always be a hero to his family, Charles will be sadly missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. He will be reunited with Dotsie and all of his family and friends, who have gone before him, in Heaven, where he will keep everyone laughing and entertained. Have a wonderful trip Pop and watch over us with Mom. We will miss you terribly, but please know that we love you around the world and back again! Very special thanks to the staff of the ACU unit at Westminster Healthcare Center and Bridging Life Hospice. The viewing will be at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, on September 27, 2023, at 10:00 am.Interment will take place at Lake Lawn Park following a Mass in the funeral home chapel at 12pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Museum, www.rafcamuseum.co.uk; or the World War II Museum in New Orleans, https://www.nationalworldwar2museum.org, where Charles donated some artifacts from the war. Please visit and sign the family guestbook at www.lakelawnmetairie.com.