Michael J. 'Mike' Barbish Jr.
Michael J. “Mike” Barbish Jr., 81, of Harmony passed away Monday at the VA Medical Center in Butler.
Born on Feb. 16, 1932, in McDonald, Pa., he was the son of the late Michael J. and Mary Ellen (Sparber) Barbish Sr.
Mike proudly served his country in the U.S. Army.
After 29 years of dedicated service as an industrial arts teacher and guidance counselor, he retired from the Riverside School District. He owned and operated Barbish Contracting, Inc., in Harmony and loved working on his family farm.
He was a faithful member of the Grace Church of Harmony and volunteered at the Pine Valley Bible Camp in Ellwood City for more than 40 years. Mike was a former president of the Kiwanis International, a member of the Harmony Masonic Lodge 429, the Eastern Star Chapter 485 and a member of the Shriners International. Above all, Mike's good-hearted nature, selflessness and generosity will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his beloved wife of 60 years, Nancy L. (Schroth) Barbish, who he married on Dec. 31, 1952; his three loving children, Mary Lou Flecher, Robert M. Barbish and his wife, Lou Ann, and Cheryl Wick and her husband, Jack; his brother, William R. Barbish and his wife, Evelyn; his sister, Mary Ellen Godfrey and her husband, Bill; his five grandchildren, Robert M. Barbish Jr. and his wife, Salli, Amanda T. Norris and her husband, Michael, Jessica T. Valdez and her husband, Filipe, Catherine L. Wick and Jackie L. Wick; and his four great-grandchildren, Christopher and Dylan Grubbs and Joseph M. and Austin R. Barbish.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Taucher.
Barbish — The family of Michael J. “Mike” Barbish Jr., who passed away Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, will welcome friends from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home, 219 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople.A funeral ceremony will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at the Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist Church, 123 N. Pittsburgh St., Zelienople, with the Rev. Peter J. Everett officiating. Friends please meet at the church.He will be laid to rest with military honors at the Grace Church of Harmony Cemetery.If desired, memorial contributions may be made in his honor in support of the Pine Valley Bible Camp, 504 Chapel Drive, Ellwood City, PA 16117.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Barbish family at www.glennkildoofuneralhome.com
