Barber, Marshall D.

caption

Obituary

Marshall D. Barber

KNOX — Marshall Barber was a hard-working man who loved farming. His greatest passion was working the fields on his tractor. He died unexpectedly Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003, at his home on his family farm at Barber's Corners in Knox. He was 85.

Mr. Barber was born in Knox, the only child of William and Alice Barber. He lived on the current family farm since he was four years old. He attended a one-room schoolhouse near the farm and was a graduate of Berne-Knox High School. 'He was born a farmer.' Marshall Barber Barber still made time for "He was born a farmer," said his wife of 55 years, Nicolina Colucciello Barber. "Him and his fatherwere dairy farmers. In later years, he sold the cows and grew hay and oats. Later, it was just hay. He farmed others' land, too." The Barber farm is 200 acres, with about 150 acres of tillable land, said Mrs. Barber. "My husband just loved tractors," she went on. "He had four of them. If farm machinery was out there, he'd buy it."

In addition to his farming, Mr. Barber held several other jobs. He worked as a time-keeper for the Albany County Highway Department. And he got up early on Sunday mornings to deliver the Sunday Times Union. And he drove a school bus for the Berne-Knox-Westerlo schools. In addition, he was elected tax assessor for the town of Knox, his wife said. "He worked real hard, real hard," said his wife.

Despite his long hours of labor, Mi community activities and sport. He was a charter member of the Knox Volunteer Fire Company and its first secretary. He was a member of the Knox Reformed Church and a former member of the Albany County Farm Bureau.

He liked stock-car racing, dating back to the early days of the Fonda Speedway. He was also a member of several bowling leagues. And, for over 50 years, he was an avid fan of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo sports program.

Marshall Barber and Nicolina Colucciello met at a square dance on Gun Club Road in Altamont. "It was at Pat's Ranch, where the church is now," said Mrs. Barber. "All the young people used to go there on Saturday night...At intermissions, Pat would get his flashlight and go outside to make sure there was no monkey business going on," she recalled with a laugh.

Marshall Barber had traditinal ideas about marriage. "The inside work was for the woman. The outside work was for the man," said Mrs. Barber, adding, "He was a real good husband."

The Barbers raised three children — all sons. "He was a very, very strict father," said Mrs. Barber. "His children had to obey and had to work hard. They all worked hard on the farm."

All three have since left the farm. "They all got better jobs," said Mrs. Barber.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Barber is survived by his three sons and daughters-in-law, Clifford and Karen Barber of East Berne, William and Nancy Barber of Binghamton, and Dennis and Carol Barber of Knox; and seven grandchildren — Nicholas, Amy, Matthew, Daniel, Julie, Joshua, and Justin.

A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Knox Reformed Church in Knox. Relatives and friends may call at the Fredendall Funeral Home at 199 Main Street in Altamont on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in the Knox Cemetery in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to the Knox Reformed Church, Judith Conklin, treasurer, 2090 Berne-Aitamont Road, Altamont, NY 12009 or to the Helderberg Ambulance Squad, Post Office Box 54, East Berne, NY 12059.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer

Additional Media

Sources

---