Word has been received of the death of Harry T. “Bud” Barger, of Hagerstown, Md. He served on the boards of the Grace Brethren North American and the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation and was director of the Grace Brethren Fellowship Estate and Financial Planning Ministry. His obituary appears below.
Harry (Bud) T. Barger Jr.
Harry T. “Bud” Barger Jr., of Hagerstown, Md., passed away peacefully at his residence Friday, Jan. 6, 2017.
He was the son of Harry T. Barger Sr. and Rachel Irene Stenger Barger.
He graduated from Hagerstown High School in 1956.
In 1958, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served with Naval Intelligence. He spent time with the Naval Security Group in Charleston, S.C., until 1961.
On March 4, 1961, he married the former Rose Marie Nigh of Hagerstown.
From 1961 to 1964, Harry was stationed in London, England, with the Naval Security Group. His first son, Kirk, was born in London.
Harry, Rose and Kirk returned to the States in June of ‘64. His second son, Eric, joined the family in 1965.
Upon being discharged from the Navy, Harry joined IBM Corp. in Hagerstown where he worked as administrative analyst until 1975 when he transferred to Baltimore, Md., and then on to Rockville, Md., as operations manager. In 1979, he became branch administration manager in Baltimore until 1983. At that time, he returned to the Hagerstown Office as operations manager. Upon his retirement from IBM in 1993, he became director of development for The Salvation Army and served in that position until 2013. He also served as a member of The Salvation Army Board for 20 years.
Harry served as national director of Grace Brethren Fellowship Estate and Financial Planning Ministry from 1998 to 2006. He and Rose traveled to Grace Brethren Churches across the U.S. and presented seminars.
He served on the GBNAM Board and was chairman of the Chaplaincy Committee. He also served on the Board of the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation.
Harry was a member of Hagerstown Kiwanis Club from 1985 to 2015. He served as president in 2002 and many years on the Board of Directors.
Harry also served on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Washington County.
Harry has been a member of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches since 1973, serving as Sunday school teacher, vice moderator, deacon, Sunday school superintendent and choir member.
He currently attended Maranatha Brethren Church.
Harry is survived by his wife, Rose Marie Nigh Barger; sons, Kirk Lynn Barger and wife, Annette, of Leesburg, Ind., and Eric David Barger and wife, Carol, of Hagerstown; and grandchildren, JoyLynn Nesbitt and husband, Matthew, and children, Jade and Amelia, of San Antonio, Texas, Ryan Barger and wife, Alejandra, and son, Elliott, of Houston, Texas, Melinda Kline and husband, Abram, of Jenison, Mich., Hannah Dean and husband, Orland, of Hagerstown, Landon Barger and wife, Brianna, of Lafayette, Ind., and Harrison Barger of Hagerstown.
Harry loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed watching his grandson, Harrison, playing baseball, soccer and basketball.
Harry also is survived by one maternal aunt, Shirley Stenger Rider and husband, Jim, of Asheville, N.C.; and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Minnich Funeral Home, 415 E. Wilson Blvd., Hagerstown.
The funeral will be held Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m. at Minnich Funeral Home, with a viewing one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Jeffrey Dunkle, the Rev. Dan Thornton, and the Rev. Roger Myers will be officiating.
Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Williamsport.
Gifts may be made in Harry’s memory to Maranatha Brethren Church, 19835 Scott Hill Drive, Hagerstown, Md. 21740; or Grace Academy, 13321 Cearfoss Pike, Hagerstown, Md. 21742.
Online condolences are accepted at minnichfh.com.