Born April 9, 1915, in Spring Valley, the son of Theodore "Teddy" and Nellie Feaster Barr. He always referred himself as "a 1915 model." Ed married Anna Mae Noel on Nov. 14, 1943, in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years; two sons, Bill (Jill) Barr of Tremont and Steven (special friend, Donna) Barr of Normal; six grandchildren, Jim (Kathy) Uphoff of Washington; Joe (Susie) Uphoff of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Zach (special friend, Larissa Armstrong) Barr of Newark, N.J.; Lauren Barr of Peru; and Darah Hannan and Seth Hannan, both of Tremont; and four great-grandchildren, Joe Ryland of Chambersburg, Pa.; Lauren Funicelli of Huntington, Ind.; and Kelsy Uphoff and Tyler Uphoff, both of Washington.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Barbara Barr and Nellie Beal; and a daughter, Ruthanne.

Ed was a World War II veteran serving in the Army Air Corps as a Staff Sergeant. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater as a flight engineer on a C-47 supply plane. He received the following honors and medals for his service to our country: the Victory Medal; the American Theater Ribbon; the Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal; the Overseas Bar; the American, Pacific and English Mechanic Bar; Service Bar; Overseas Service Bar; and the Good Conduct Bar.

Ed was the store manager at the A&P grocery store in Minonk for 29 years. He worked for Caterpillar in Building HH in East Peoria, retiring in 1982.

Ed was a 50-year member of the Minonk Masonic Lodge. He was past Commander of the American Legion Post 142. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.

He and his wife moved to Sierra Vista, Ariz., in 1985 and lived there for 17 years. They enjoyed many friends and their church, Our Lady of the Mountains. They returned to Illinois in 2002 to spend more time with family.

He was a very talented roller skater and loved the Skaters Waltz. The ladies were always lined up to skate with him. He enjoyed traveling with his wife throughout the United States. He loved going out to breakfast with family and friends. He was an avid Cubs fan and will now be enjoying the games with his daughter Ruthanne in the "best seat in the house." Ed was loved by all and will be dearly missed.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Minonk, with Father Patrick Fixsen officiating. Cremation rites will be accorded. Family will receive friends at 9:30 until time of service at the church. Inurnment will follow in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Minonk with full military honors. Calvert & Froelich Memorial Home, Minonk is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation at VFW Foundation, Suite 514, Kansas City, MO 64111 or by visiting their Web site at www.vfwfoundation.org.

Online condolences may be made at www.calvertmemorial.com