David William Barr

David was born April 23, 1948 in Detroit, MI, the son of David Thomas Barr and Dorothy Lenhart. David graduated from Franklin High School in Livonia Michigan, and then went on to graduate from the University of Michigan with an Undergraduate degree in Mathematics and a Master’s Degree in Computer Science. He later went on to earn his law degree from the University of Minnesota. Despite his legal studies, he ultimately settled with a career in IT, holding a number of different positions, and ending his career as a computer network architect. He retired in 2016.

David was smart, inquisitive, fiercely independent, and while he had a penchant for bluntness, he always led with humor. An accomplished craftsman, he built furniture, stained glass pieces, and acquired his general contractor and electrician licenses to ultimately support remodeling/building several homes, including his final dream home in Charlotte. When he wasn’t completing a home project, he enjoyed staying active with running, golfing, or riding his motorcycle.

He also loved spending time with his large family, whether it was cooking a nice meal, playing cards, hassling them about the best way to do something, or just checking in to see how they were doing. He loved generously.

David found his most favorite hobby later in life, learning to fly airplanes. A life-long fascination with learning to fly culminated in his earning his private pilot’s license and instrument certification. One of the highlights of his life was showing off those skills in flying between North Carolina, Ohio, and Michigan to visit his cherished family. We will always think of him when we pick up a killer tailwind.

He is deeply missed by his children, Kirsten Barr (John Waligura), Anne Bowers (Tyson Bowers), and Steven Barr; his grandchildren, Walter Waligura, Cara Bowers, and Weston Bowers; and his siblings, Barbara Barr (Jerry Gershenhorn), Nancy Barr (Brian Morris), Mary Barr (Brad Flynn), Gerri Barr (Tom Egel) and Tim Barr (Judith Soth).

He was preceded in death by his wife, Julie Marie (Norwood) Barr, his former wife Besty (Hoffman) Barr, and his parents, David Thomas Barr and Dorothy Marie (Lenhart) Barr.

A private family memorial will be held at a future date.