Obituary of Jr. Barham

Robert Erle Barham, Jr. (Mr. Ree) went to Heaven on January 1st, 2013 at the age of 93. Mr. Ree was born on December 3, 1919 in the home of his grandparents, William T. and Ada Mott Barham Oak Ridge, LA. He graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1937, and attended Louisiana State University. Serving his country in the United States Army as a Tank Sergeant for General Patton's 6th Armor Division during the European Campaigns of World War II, he participated in the Normandy Invasion, Liberation of Paris, France, the Battle of the Bulge (Bastogne, Belgium), and the Liberation of Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and five Campaign Medals. The third generation owner and proprietor of Barham's General Mercantile Store, he kept the family business open for forty years until his retirement in 1983. A life-long member of Oak Ridge Baptist Church, Mr. Ree served as a Deacon and Superintendent of the Sunday School for many years. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Erle Barham, Sr. and Emma Shepard Barham; two brothers, William Shepard Barham and Theodore Shepard Barham. Mr. Ree is survived by his daughter, Sharon Barham Carter of Monroe, LA; two sons, David Wayne Barham of Oak Ridge, LA, Richard M. Barham and wife Sally of Oak Ridge, LA; younger sister, Catherine (Cat) Barham of Oak Ridge, LA; eight grandchildren, David Christopher Barham, Jason Michael Barham, Jesse Aaron Barham, Tatum Erle Barham, Brian Michael Barham, James Robert Barham, Tammy Anne Carter, Joshua Auldon Carter; and nine great grandchildren Zac Carter, Steven Mims, Sammy Barham,Sarah Barham, Ian Barham, Eleanor Catherine Barham, Analease Noel Barham, William Tate Barham, Caroline Elise Barham. Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be Bud Shepard, Earl Hogan, Gerald McLendon, and Dennis Smith. Visitation for friends and neighbors will be from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, on Thursday, January 4, 2013 at Golden Funeral Home in Bastrop, LA. Elder David W. Barham and Rev. James Barham will conduct the graveside services with Military honors at Oak Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery, Friday, January 5, 2013, at 10:00 AM.