WOODBURY — Edward M. Barry, 84, of Woodbury, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 2, at Waterbury Hospital surrounded by his family in person and in spirit. He was the husband of Elizabeth (Knox) Barry.
Ed Barry was born Dec. 26, 1927 in Waterbury, a son of the late James Joseph and Mary Agnes (Scanlon) Barry. He attended Waterbury schools and joined the U.S. Navy in 1946.
He worked for the city of Waterbury Board of Education as an electrician for 33 years, where he was the VP and grievance chairman of the AFSCME labor union. He also worked for Research Projects part time after his retirement.
He worked for Region 14 as its district mail carrier for 28 years, retiring in December 2011 for health reasons. He had also worked as a school bus driver for Region 14 for a short time.
Ed was on the board of the American Lung Association of Waterbury, was a member of the American Legion Post 155 and a life time member of the Disabled American Veterans Association. He was an avid UConn men’s and women’s basketball fan and a Notre Dame football fan.
He loved his yearly summer camping trips and walking the beach in Maine with his large family.
In addition to his loving wife of 60 years, he is survived by seven children, Peggy B. Rehkamp and her husband George of Bethlehem, Patricia B. Thomas of Litchfield, Kevin G. Barry and his wife Brenda of Woodbury, Brian G. Barry and his wife Linda of Woodbury, Maureen B. McCurdy and her husband Dave of Bethlehem, Betsy Daniels and her husband Dave of Woodbury and Katie B. Rutkowski of Terryville; 22 grandchildren, Kristie Gannon and her husband James, George J. Rehkamp, Robert E. Thomas and his wife Kim, SSGT Karl B. Rehkamp USAF(R) and his fiancée Chloe Stewart, Brian J. Thomas and his wife Shannon, Kevin G. Barry II, Jana Rehkamp and her fiancé Kennard France, Shawn P. Barry and his wife Emily, Stephanie Capps and her husband Trey, Michael C. Start and his partner Dana Wark, Melanie Daniels and her fiancé Michael Shugrue, Elizabeth deGraffenried and her husband Daniel, Rosemary McCurdy, CWO2 Jonathan B. Thomas USA, Brian E. Barry, Frank E. Start and his wife Kayla, HM2 Patrick E. McCurdy and his wife Rebecca, Rebecca Clampett and her husband John, Ryan A. Barry and partner Susan Kazlauskas, EM2 Aaron M. Barry USN(R), Colleen McCurdy and Jenel Barry; 24 great-grandchildren, James, Jacqueline and Gabrielle Gannon, Royce, Genevieve, Molly and Isabella Thomas, Joshua Rehkamp, Ryan and Nathan Corey, Madison Thomas, Ryann Lillian France, Keira and Shawn Barry, Collin Start, Elliot Daniels, Daniel and William deGraffenried, Brett Carter, Kamren and Connor Start, Amber White, Brynn and Gavin Clampett; two sisters-in-law, Loretta Barry and Ruth Barry, both of Waterbury; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Maurice “Moe” Barry and James Barry and three sisters, Betty Singer, Ann Barry and Virginia Bryk.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 6, at 10 a.m at the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. Burial will follow in New North Cemetery, Woodbury, with full military honors. Friends may call at the Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 2 School St., on Thursday, July 5, from 4 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Woodbury Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 581, Woodbury 06798 or Church of the Nativity, 48 East St., Bethlehem 06751.
From The Waterbury Republican-American
