Lawrence W. (Bill) Barrington Jr., age 76, of Blue Rapids, KS, passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas.
Bill was born on January 1, 1947 in Topeka to Lawrence W. Sr. and Pearl Haynes Barrington. He grew up in Blue Rapids and was proud of his hometown. He graduated from Blue Rapids High School and joined the Air Force right out of high school. Most of his service time was spent at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota as a helicopter mechanic. When his helicopter was sent to Thailand and Vietnam on temporary duty, he accompanied it and served three months in the war zone.
He met Charlotte M. Lemer (Charli) in Minot, North Dakota, and they were married in Drake, North Dakota on September 2, 1967. After his honorable discharge from the service, they returned to Blue Rapids with a promise to his mother-in-law Loretta to return to North Dakota at least once a year.
Bill worked for Nutrena Feeds in Blue Rapids, Lindsey Water Conditioning of Seneca, and retired from Georgia Pacific Corp after 39 years. While working at Georgia Pacific, he was active in the Oil Chemical Atomic Workers Local 571.
In his younger years he was a volunteer in the Blue Rapids Fire Dept. He was a life member of VFW transferring his membership to the Frankfort VFW when the Blue Rapids VFW dissolved. He served on the Blue Rapids City Council for 4 years and was adjutant and a life member of the George Bedford Post 169 American Legion. He felt most humbled to be able to go to Washington D.C. on an Honor Flight.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers Arlen Haynes, Wayne Barrington, and Dean Barrington, a brother-in-law Francis Lemer, sisters-in law Betty Barrington, Deborah Barrington and Julie Smith and nephew Randy Barrington.
He is survived by his wife Charlotte, Blue Rapids, daughter Jamie Yungeberg (Allen) of Blue Rapids, grandsons Will Yungeberg (Hayley) of Lenexa, Jake Yungeberg of Manhattan, several cousins, and numerous in-laws and nieces and nephews who loved “Uncle Bill” dearly.
A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, May 20, 2023 in the Blue Rapids Square, with Pastor Berniece Ludlum officiating. In case of rain the memorial service will be at the Blue Rapids Gym. A luncheon will follow the service. A private family burial will be at Prospect Hill Cemetery, north of Blue Rapids.
Memorials are suggested to the Bill Barrington Memorial which will be donated to the Blue Rapids Organizations during Blue Rapids “Circle of Giving Day” in September. Memorials can be sent in care of Christie-Anderes Funeral Home, PO Box 61, Waterville, KS 66548.
