Ransom Funeral Home
610 South Washington Street
Castalia, OH 44824
Phone: 419-626-6666
Fax: 419-684-5191
Email: ransom244@aol.com
Website: http://www.ransomfuneralhome.com
View All Obituaries from Ransom Funeral Home
Buford B. Barber, age 92, of Castalia, died Monday night, March 31, 2014, at Stein Hospice Care Center, Sandusky after a brief illness.
He was born June 11, 1921, in Hunter, OK, and graduated from Wichita University.
Buford was a veteran of WWII joining the US Navy in Dallas, TX, on January 9, 1941, and discharged after spending a 6 year enlistment, January 9, 1947. Spending his boot camp in San Diego, he served aboard the USS Helena CL 50, and was tied up at dock during the Pearl Harbor attack December 7, 1941, receiving one torpedo during that attack. After being repaired, the USS Helena participated in numerous conflicts in the South Pacific, which included the Battle of Cape Esperance, Battle of Guadalcanal, and the Battle of Kula Gulf; and many bombardments on Japanese held islands, which included Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Okinawa. He spent the remainder of his Navy career on five cruisers, the USS Helena, Houston, Vincennes, Vicksburg, and Miami; and one carrier the USS Sicily. After his discharge from the US Navy; he became employed by Edison Brothers Inc., St. Louis, MO, for 35 years, retiring in 1983. Buford spent his retirement in Avon Lake, OH, Fairhope, AL, and Huron, OH. He was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Assn; the USS Helena CL-50 Assn; Gideon International, and American Legion. Buford enjoyed golf and fishing.
He is survived by three daughters Cary Johnson, Stockton CA, Dianna Feuling, Madison, WI, and Rebecca (Thomas) Higham, Castalia; 5 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Buford was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Barber; parents William and Lulu (Phipps) Barber; two brothers Kenneth and Keith Barber; and one sister Laverne Dillard.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, April 4, 2014, at 3:30 PM at the Commons of Providence, 5000 Providence Dr., Sandusky. Graveside services will be on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at 11:00 AM in Castalia Cemetery with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Commons of Providence, 5000 Providence Dr., Sandusky, OH 44870; Stein Hospice Services, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky; or to Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800 Nashville, TN 37214-0800.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.ransomfuneralhome.com
Ransom Funeral Home, Castalia, was in charge of the arrangements.
