Mike Barefoot, son of Bernard, with his wife BarbMike Barefoot paid tribute to his deceased father Bernard Barefoot, who originally lived in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. Bernard was born 16 August 1933 in Conemaugh, Pennsylvania, to Russel J. “Doc” Barefoot and Pat Romesburg Barefoot. He already had 3 brothers waiting for him with a sister and another brother to follow. Dan was the mediator to the other brothers and sister in their disagreements.
The family moved to Ebensburg (Mylo Park) while he was a young boy, and there he took on the responsibility of a paper route while he grew, and Doc (Grandpap) made sure that he had a lot of hard work to grow on. He attended Central Cambria High School and excelled in math. He was always quick in math and even helped my daughter to acquire this ability. Doc and Pat (Grandma and Grandpap) evidently made sure that he would be a good-natured, honest man with a lot of common sense to go into the big world.
The Navy followed high school as he became a radarman aboard the USS Caperton DA650 and traveled the world. His stories inspired me to follow in his footsteps. Six of his children served in the Armed Services, and only a disability kept the one out – one Navy, one Army, one PA National Guard, and three Air Force. While in the Navy, he met my mother, June Elizabeth Hopper. He was from Ebensburg, and she was from Portage, and they met in New Jersey…small world!
I know that Dad was a hard-working man because most of my young life, he worked at least two jobs to support his growing family. There were twelve years between the oldest and the youngest child.
One of the first things I learned was the rules, just as he had. The second thing was, Dad liked to fish. We all knew this, because we all went with him many, many times, and in later years in Florida, he would donate time in tournaments, especially when children and fishing worked together.
As I remember back and relate to each of my brothers and sisters, he taught us all many things. Some talents, some skills, but mainly the idea that “inspiration and perspiration will get the job done.”
Dad was a jack-of-all-trades, but Bethlehem Steel kept him busy all the time. He suffered his first heart attack at work and was pronounced dead, but on the way to the hospital, he was revived! I believe that God blessed us and allowed a good man some more time to be with his family.
I have heard from others and have seen how dad and others got along. He made friends everywhere he went, and he helped make good times happen. He loved his wife to the end. He died from complications due to Legionnaires’ Disease on 9 October 1998. His wife joined him two years later.
As I look at my brother and sisters, I can see Dad in all of them. Dad could have been anything he wanted to be. He was gifted with common sense, honest to the core, and willing to help anyone.
He was just dad to seven kids and Grandpap to four other kid and the miracle baby that came after dad left that will carry on his name.
By Mike Barefoot
This Barefoot Family is descended from William S. Barefoot and Dianne Beck. The author and presenter Mike Barefoot is the vice president of the Barefoot Reunion and the immediate past president of the Reunion. He and wife Barb live in Boiling Springs, PA.
The family moved to Ebensburg (Mylo Park) while he was a young boy, and there he took on the responsibility of a paper route while he grew, and Doc (Grandpap) made sure that he had a lot of hard work to grow on. He attended Central Cambria High School and excelled in math. He was always quick in math and even helped my daughter to acquire this ability. Doc and Pat (Grandma and Grandpap) evidently made sure that he would be a good-natured, honest man with a lot of common sense to go into the big world.
The Navy followed high school as he became a radarman aboard the USS Caperton DA650 and traveled the world. His stories inspired me to follow in his footsteps. Six of his children served in the Armed Services, and only a disability kept the one out – one Navy, one Army, one PA National Guard, and three Air Force. While in the Navy, he met my mother, June Elizabeth Hopper. He was from Ebensburg, and she was from Portage, and they met in New Jersey…small world!
I know that Dad was a hard-working man because most of my young life, he worked at least two jobs to support his growing family. There were twelve years between the oldest and the youngest child.
One of the first things I learned was the rules, just as he had. The second thing was, Dad liked to fish. We all knew this, because we all went with him many, many times, and in later years in Florida, he would donate time in tournaments, especially when children and fishing worked together.
As I remember back and relate to each of my brothers and sisters, he taught us all many things. Some talents, some skills, but mainly the idea that “inspiration and perspiration will get the job done.”
Dad was a jack-of-all-trades, but Bethlehem Steel kept him busy all the time. He suffered his first heart attack at work and was pronounced dead, but on the way to the hospital, he was revived! I believe that God blessed us and allowed a good man some more time to be with his family.
I have heard from others and have seen how dad and others got along. He made friends everywhere he went, and he helped make good times happen. He loved his wife to the end. He died from complications due to Legionnaires’ Disease on 9 October 1998. His wife joined him two years later.
As I look at my brother and sisters, I can see Dad in all of them. Dad could have been anything he wanted to be. He was gifted with common sense, honest to the core, and willing to help anyone.
He was just dad to seven kids and Grandpap to four other kid and the miracle baby that came after dad left that will carry on his name.
By Mike Barefoot
This Barefoot Family is descended from William S. Barefoot and Dianne Beck. The author and presenter Mike Barefoot is the vice president of the Barefoot Reunion and the immediate past president of the Reunion. He and wife Barb live in Boiling Springs, PA.
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