Paul Arland Barber

Paul Barber, the last surviving son of Howard and Grace Kufus Barber, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 10, 2023, at 90 years of age. He had a faith-filled life that was rich in adventure and service to his country and a deep love for his family. He was a son, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle, beloved husband and a loving dad. He was a farmer, pilot, veteran, professor, financial advisor, woodworker, art collector, poet and a published author. Paul was a founding partner of the Barber Farm Holdings, LLC, which continues to operate on the family homestead land in Kansas. He had a favorite saying.…”Today is another day in which to excel”. Paul lived his life in that manner and encouraged each of us to do everything to the very best of our abilities.

Colonel Paul Arland Barber, USAF, Retired, of Nacogdoches, Texas, was born September 14, 1932, in South Haven, Kansas. He was the fifth of six sons born to Howard and Grace Kufus Barber. Raised on a wheat farm during the Great Depression, his first seven years of schooling were in a one-room country schoolhouse. In 1941, at South Haven Baptist Church, Paul accepted Christ and was later baptized in the Chikaskia River. Paul graduated from South Haven High School in 1950 and from Kansas State University in 1954, where he received his Air Force commission.

After graduating from Pilot Training, Paul’s twenty-eight year Air Force career paralleled the long Cold War with the Soviet Union. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he stood “Cockpit Alert”, prepared to launch his aircraft if President Kennedy ordered a retaliatory strike on the Soviet Union. During the Vietnam War he flew over two hundred combat support missions, air-refueling bomber and fighter aircraft. While commanding the 99th Air Refueling Squadron in Blytheville, Arkansas, his unit completed hundreds of additional missions, earning the Outstanding Unit Award. Paul was a Command Pilot with over 5000 hours flying time. Later, in an assignment to the war headquarters in Saigon, South Vietnam, Paul helped write President Nixon’s Vietnam Withdrawal Plan. His part established the release of American prisoners of war held by North Vietnam.

After Vietnam, Paul spent a year of advanced studies at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces as well as earning a Master’s Degree from Central Michigan University. Paul was assigned to the Pentagon as a Team Chief in the National Military Command Center. While working for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense, his team stood ready to launch America's nuclear forces against any aggressor attacking America. Paul next served as Senior Military Representative for Crisis Management at the U.S. State Department before a final assignment took him full circle back to his alma mater, Kansas State University, as Department Head and Professor of Aerospace Studies.

Paul’s various military service awards included the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), National Defense Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with five Bronze Service Stars and the AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (awarded three times).

In a second career, Paul became a licensed Financial Advisor in 1982, and he opened the first Edward Jones Investments office in Nacogdoches, Texas. He served on the firm's national hiring team, trained new Financial Advisors, and laid the groundwork for several additional offices in Nacogdoches. Paul had a twelve-year career with Edward Jones, and he was privileged to be offered a Limited Partnership with the firm.

Paul’s family was a source of much pride and joy. The love of his life, best friend, and wife of 68 years, Dorothy (Dottie) Ann Crawford Barber, survives him. As a dedicated wife, mother, and loyal Air Force companion, Dottie kept the home fires burning while Paul was away on temporary duty assignments, often times gone from home for several months. Dottie also served as branch manager of his Edward Jones office. In her quiet manner, she provided inspiration and encouragement to Paul, and he unhesitatingly credited Dottie for much of his success throughout his two careers.

Paul’s family included his daughter, Julie Ann Pankratz of Nacogdoches, Texas; son, Steven Wayne Barber and wife, Christie, of Nacogdoches, Texas; son, Keith Alan Barber and wife, Judy, of Frisco, Texas; seven grandchildren: Kimberly Elaine Greene and husband, Fremont, of Richmond, Texas; Taylor Paul Pankratz and wife, Amanda, of Nacogdoches, Texas; Jason Michael Barber and wife, Rachel, of Nacogdoches, Texas; Allison Brielle Hayes and husband, Will, of College Station, Texas; Ashton Nichole Barber of Nashville, Tennessee; Matthew Cameron Barber and wife, Natalie, of Anna, Texas, and Timothy Andrew Barber of Houston, Texas. Paul and Dottie were also blessed with twelve great-grandchildren: Tucker Greene, Ryland Greene, Maelyn Greene, Nathan Pankratz, Micah Pankratz, Joanna Barber, Luke Barber, Samuel Barber, Jack Barber, Caroline Hayes, Anna-Kate Hayes and Emma-Claire Hayes. Paul is also survived by his special sister-in-law, Susan Barber, of Fort Worth, Texas. He leaves a host of treasured nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Paul’s much-loved parents and five brothers, Glenn, Benny, Conrad, Roger and Warren K., preceded him in death.

Paul was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, a member of several military organizations, a former Rotarian, and a past member of Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce. Paul loved sports, especially football and basketball. He enjoyed attending the SFA Lumberjack and Ladyjack basketball games as well as watching A&M football. Paul also had a great love of gospel music, and he, Dottie and the family would often travel to Branson, Missouri, to see the gospel quartet shows. As his grandchildren grew up, Paul would cheer them on at Drill Team shows, musical concerts, tennis matches, football and soccer games, band competitions and piano recitals. Paul loved taking his young family camping and boating at Norfork Lake in Arkansas, playing Mario Kart with the grandkids, and eating Dottie’s homemade tacos. Paul was a poet and an author, having published three novels: "Another Day in Which to Excel", "America in the CrossHairs", and "Taming the Sword". Next to his deep love for God and his family, Paul was most proud to be an American and to have had the honor of serving his country. Paul was simply “Papa” to each of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and his legacy of faith, family and love for country lives on in them.

Honorary pallbearers are Jason Barber, Matthew Barber, Timothy Barber, Fremont Greene, William Hayes and Taylor Pankratz.

Paul will be interred, with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Pastor Noel Dear will officiate at Paul’s memorial service to be held on Saturday, April 29th, at 2:00pm in the chapel of First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches. Visitation will precede the service at 1:00pm.

Services provided by Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.