On the evening of April 11, 2015 Tony passed away peacefully comforted by his wife, step-daughter, and friend. Tony Barr was born in the town of Bristol in Sullivan County, TN on June 23, 1960. He was the second child, and the first son of Fred and Wilma Barr, who have both passed. Tony was a native of Bristol, Virginia and a graduate of Virginia High School.
Tony was a fixture at Bristol Life Saving Crew. He joined the Bristol Life Saving Crew Junior Squad on April 16, 1975. He served in many capacities in the Junior Squad and served as its Captain. Tony became an Emergency Medical Technician in both Virginia and Tennessee in 1977, and became a Lifetime Member of the Bristol Life Saving Crew in 1990. He was responsible for the design of Unit 46, the crew’s heavy rescue truck which is still in service today. He attended the Virginia Rescue College. Tony was certified in Basic Rescue, Heavy Rescue, Tactical Rescue, Vehicle Rescue, Off Road Vehicle Rescue, Water Rescue, and was a certified diver for the crew. Tony started the Water Rescue Team for the Bristol Life Saving Crew. He was also part of the Bristol Life Saving Crew’s Competition Rescue Team. During his tenure at the crew, he answered thousands of calls, was responsible for the saving of many lives, and many times was called upon by other agencies in the area for rescue consultation and assistance.
After attending the University of Tennessee for one year, he went to aviation school in Panama City Florida where he got his pilot’s license. He worked as a pilot for several local companies before he decided to go into law enforcement. Tony graduated from the Louisville Police Academy, and worked for the Bristol Virginia Sheriff’s Office for many years, in Civil Process and Courtroom Security. Tony also served as a US Marshall. When he left law enforcement he managed an assisted living facility, then became a conductor and an engineer for Norfolk and Southern Railroad out of Chattanooga, TN.
He is survived by his wife, Linda McDonough Barr of Christiansburg, Virginia; his sister, Freda Hardage and her husband Mark of Johns Creek, GA. He also leaves behind a niece, Kelle Hardage and a nephew Cody Hardage both of Johns Creek GA; as well as several cousins.
Tony was a big man with even a bigger personality. He was a very patriotic man, loved to serve people. His favorite music was bluegrass and George Straight. One of Tony’s many gifts was making people feel like they belonged. If you had the good fortune to be called his friend, then you were blessed indeed. He was a true leader in every sense of the word and his passing is a huge loss to many. Quote from the book Fearless by Max Lucado that sounds just like Tony. “He made friends the way bakers make bread: daily, easily, warmly. Handshake big and eager; laughter contagious and volcanic.”
Tony asked for no service and in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project or to your local animal shelter.