Edward James Barbarow
August 21, 1927 - July 26, 2020
Edward “Jim” Barbarow, of Orange, CA passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2020 after reaching the age of 92 years old. He died peacefully within his home with his beloved partner, Pauline Kremer and children/daughter-in-law (Dan, Carol and Patty) by his side.
Jim was born on August 21, 1927 in Paterson, NJ to Edward Jackson Barbarow and Jean Kidd Barbarow. As a boy growing up in Paterson, he enjoyed the company of many relatives and multiple neighborhood friends, playing baseball and trekking to the Passaic Lake.
In 1945, at the age of 18, he joined the US Coast Guard, where he served 21 years. Jim retired as a Chief Petty Officer in January, 1966. After retiring from the USCG, he thoroughly enjoyed a long career in the paper industry from 1966 to 1991. Jim was a member of the Elks BPOE 309 (CO. Springs, CO) for 69 years and a long- time member of the Orange, CA. American Legion Post 132.
Semper Paratus - Always Ready
While being stationed in Juneau Alaska, Jim met and married Betty A. Given on November 13, 1953 and they had four children. The family moved often but raised their children in Garden Grove, CA, Colorado Springs, CO and Orange, CA. They experienced a beautiful 37 years together until Betty passed away in August, 1990.
In 1994 Jim reunited with an old friend, Pauline Kremer. He and Pauline enjoyed being together while living in Orange, CA these past 26 years. They traveled throughout the US and relished great memories and adventures of several cruises around various parts of the world.
Jim was a strong patriarch of his family, a good friend to all, and a man who lived an honest and clean life. He was a good father and always took care of his children and did the best he could to teach and guide them, and a loving grandfather and great-grandfather. He always remembered each of their birthdays and wedding anniversaries with a beautiful handwritten card in the mail. He was a selfless man who never cared much about himself and who even in his final days would say to his loved ones, “please take care of each other when I am gone”.
Throughout his life he played a lot of golf. In his later years he enjoyed doing puzzles, monthly outings to the local casino with his friends from the Legion Hall, watching the news and old western movies with Pauline, long phone calls with his friends from around the US, and especially visits from his family.
Jim was a generous and proud man. He is loved and will be missed by many!
He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Jean Barbarow; spouse, Betty Barbarow; and daughter, Terry Cotto.
Jim Barbarow is survived by loving partner, Pauline Kremer of Orange, CA; children: Patricia Pearson (Daniel) of Augusta, GA; Daniel Barbarow (Carol) of Orange, CA; Christina Moss (Bobby) of Colorado Springs, CO; Anthony Cotto (Murmy) of Idaho Falls, ID; 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
There will be no memorial service and in lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made to the American Legion Post 132, 143 S. Lemon Street, Orange, CA. 92866
Comments & Messages
Tony Cotto
Chrisie Whittaker
While he wasn’t my grandpa, he was Grandpa Jim to me. In 1992, I spent the Summer in Orange entertaining his grandsons, Nick and Sam during the day. Grandpa Jim was a welcome and wonderful part of the fun-filled days of that Summer. He took us to the Coast Guard Base and Commissary telling us stories and history. We all played a lot of cards together that Summer too. I came back to visit other times after that great summer; a visit to see Grandpa Jim and Polly was always treasured.
Grandpa Jim loved his family greatly, but he welcomed with open arms even those of us that weren’t his family by blood. I am flooded with fond memories. I know he is greatly missed by his family.
Denise Blanchard
What a beautiful tribute. He was a fortunate man with loving children to look after him and Polly. I know he will be missed greatly. Hugs to all of you.
Jane
When I think of Grandpa Jim, I can't help but smile and laugh. As kids, he would try to act like he was mad or tough, but we all knew he was a softy. He would wake us up at the crack of dawn to military bugles blaring on his record player. He would give is $5 to pick all the weeds in his backyard in Colorado. He took me and my cousins to see Top Gun in 1986 - we all started giggling during the love scene and he said we needed to grow up...I was 12! He always had a baseball game on the TV and another one the radio next to his recliner. If you wanted to get him riled up you would tell him how much you loved Tommy Lasorda or politics. Oh, and his maps!!! I loved when he would pull out the photo albums for our history lesson. I was beyond lucky to have him for a grandpa! Simply the best!
Dan Pearson
I was smiling throughout this fine tribute, but I laughed out loud remembering all those long phone calls.
Elizabeth
I am so lucky to have known what it’s like to have a great grandfather in my lifetime.. something so rare and special! Grandpa Jim always made me feel supported and loved. I’m so grateful for the times we shared eating breakfast together, playing cards, listening to his old stories and stealing extra m&m’s when him and Pauli weren’t looking :)
Sending lots of love to everyone that was fortunate enough to know him. As this is a sad time for all of us, it is such a precious thing that we got to say goodbye and that is something we should never take for granted. He lived a long and happy life with caring family beside him, I know he is truly at peace.❤️
ED ROGERS
I thank God Jim,his spirit and stories will live with me forever. I loved to mess with him about being in the Coast Guard, since I am a Navy man. This world is a better place because of his loving ways. Far winds and following seas, " Salty Dog" your watch is over and you have been relieved. God Bless you Pops.
Big Ed
Carol
I am so proud to have been Jim's daughter-in-law for these 36 years. Jim was the most acute & sharp minded man I know. I so enjoyed the stories told with his thick New Jersey accent about the past and with exact details of all parties involved...He loved all his kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren equally and we all felt that love deeply. There are so many things I will miss but mostly his sweet and gentle nature and the relationship he had with me, Dan, our boys and daughter-in-law. Spread kindness, as that is what he kept repeating in his last days and wanted for all of us!
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I remember the 1st time I met Jim, Betty. Terry and I had just started dating and she wanted me to meet her parent. Jim and I hit it off right away. We found out that we have a few things in common the military and playing baseball.
Jim had such a gentle spirit and was easy to talk to, I guess part of it was because he was the leader of men in the military. It was a privilege to meet all of his retired military friends, he thought so highly of. He was a great father law you couldn't ask for any better, he was like a father to me. I always love talking to him on the phone he would let me know how all the family was doing and how the boys were doing talk some sports and politics, but it didn't last long because he always get to the point then ask Polly to come on and talk to Murmy.
I will always look back at the love the friendship and the admiration. Jim you were the best.