Aloys H. "Buck" Barry, 99, of Batchtown, died Monday, Sept. 1, 2008 at VIP Manor in Wood River.
A WWII Army veteran, he left Calhoun in 1943 to fight with General MacArthur in the Pacific Theater, primarily in the Philippines, and he did not return until after the war was over in November 1945.
After he returned from the war, he grew corn, apples and peaches, and raised cattle and hogs, for over 50 years on his farm north of Batchtown. Before the war, he also worked up and down the Illinois River for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and helped construct the Joe Page Bridge in Hardin.
His father, James, ran the boat landing, called Barry Landing, which is now the Jersey County Grain Company elevator in Hardin. At Barry Landing, his father shipped thousands of barrels of apples up and down the Illinois River, south to St. Louis and north to Peoria.
His grandfather, Dr. Peter C. Barry, an Irish immigrant who, while on a steamboat from St Louis to Peoria where he intended to start a practice, was persuaded to stay in Hardin because Calhoun County needed a physician. Dr. Barry never made it to Peoria; he later served Calhoun County in the state legislature and founded the Calhoun Herald newspaper.
Born May 29, 1909 in Hardin, he was the son of the late James and Anna Barry. He married Mildred Surgeon in Beardstown in 1937 and she died in 1997.
Surviving are three sons, Charles "Kent" Barry of Wood River, Richard "Kite" Barry of Phoenix, Ariz., and Michael O. Barry of Rowlett, Texas; a sister, Genevieve Rogers of Springfield; five grandchildren; six great- grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, William, and Jack and three sisters, Leola, Dorothy, and Maurine.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Sept 4, 2008 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hanks-Gress Funeral Home in Hardin. The funeral will be conducted Friday, Sept 5, at 10 a.m. at Hanks-Gress Funeral Home in Hardin with Rev. Paul D. Frazier officiating. Burial will be in St Norbert Cemetery in Hardin with full military rites.
Contributed by Billie Browning
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