Funeral Information:
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 11 :00 a.m.
First United Methodist Church of Plano
3160 East Spring Creek Pkwy. Plano Texas, 75074
Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.
Greg "Spanky" and Tim will be buried at the
United States Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Greg “Spanky” Barber was a retired LT Col USAF pilot, loving husband and father. He was an exceptionally accomplished and very experienced pilot. Not only was he a USAF Instructor Pilot, a Cold War Alert Pilot, a Combat Pilot, he flew U-2’s, B-52’s and T-38’s. He was the very last pilot to ever be selected to fly the SR-71 just before the program was cancelled and subsequently went on to become a U2 pilot.
-------------
Lt. Col. Greg "Spanky" Barber, age 55, of Farmersville, Texas, passed tragically on December 31, 2016 in a two-plane accident in McKinney, Texas at approximately 5:30PM.
Greg, an elite and decorated United States Air Force pilot and flight instructor, was spending an afternoon of quality father-son time with Tim, his number-three son, doing what they both loved, flying. Greg had a passion for flying, serving his country, and humbly serving others.
Greg was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Farmersville and was active in the Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Project "Operation Appreciation" (sending care packages to our local troops currently deployed over-seas) and many other local and worthy causes.
Greg personified the phrase "Humble Servitude" touching literally thousands of fortunate lives during his short time on this earth. His love for service was only surpassed by the love of his family, countless friends and of course, the Lord. Spanky wholeheartedly loved his family, his community, his country, his faith, and he truly loved to fly.
Matthew 25:23: His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
Greg "Spanky" Barber is survived by his wife, two sons, daughter, daughter-in-law, parents, and sister. (Family member's names omitted to preserve privacy.)
Greg and his son, Tim, will also receive a military service, 1:30PM, Thursday, January 12, 2017 at the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, 2306 Sijan Drive, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado 80840.
Burial to follow at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery.
-----------------------
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun split clouds, and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of; Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 11 :00 a.m.
First United Methodist Church of Plano
3160 East Spring Creek Pkwy. Plano Texas, 75074
Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.
Greg "Spanky" and Tim will be buried at the
United States Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Greg “Spanky” Barber was a retired LT Col USAF pilot, loving husband and father. He was an exceptionally accomplished and very experienced pilot. Not only was he a USAF Instructor Pilot, a Cold War Alert Pilot, a Combat Pilot, he flew U-2’s, B-52’s and T-38’s. He was the very last pilot to ever be selected to fly the SR-71 just before the program was cancelled and subsequently went on to become a U2 pilot.
-------------
Lt. Col. Greg "Spanky" Barber, age 55, of Farmersville, Texas, passed tragically on December 31, 2016 in a two-plane accident in McKinney, Texas at approximately 5:30PM.
Greg, an elite and decorated United States Air Force pilot and flight instructor, was spending an afternoon of quality father-son time with Tim, his number-three son, doing what they both loved, flying. Greg had a passion for flying, serving his country, and humbly serving others.
Greg was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Farmersville and was active in the Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Project "Operation Appreciation" (sending care packages to our local troops currently deployed over-seas) and many other local and worthy causes.
Greg personified the phrase "Humble Servitude" touching literally thousands of fortunate lives during his short time on this earth. His love for service was only surpassed by the love of his family, countless friends and of course, the Lord. Spanky wholeheartedly loved his family, his community, his country, his faith, and he truly loved to fly.
Matthew 25:23: His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
Greg "Spanky" Barber is survived by his wife, two sons, daughter, daughter-in-law, parents, and sister. (Family member's names omitted to preserve privacy.)
Greg and his son, Tim, will also receive a military service, 1:30PM, Thursday, January 12, 2017 at the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, 2306 Sijan Drive, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado 80840.
Burial to follow at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery.
-----------------------
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun split clouds, and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of; Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Funeral Information:
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 11 :00 a.m.
First United Methodist Church of Plano
3160 East Spring Creek Pkwy. Plano Texas, 75074
Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.
Greg "Spanky" and Tim will be buried at the
United States Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Greg “Spanky” Barber was a retired LT Col USAF pilot, loving husband and father. He was an exceptionally accomplished and very experienced pilot. Not only was he a USAF Instructor Pilot, a Cold War Alert Pilot, a Combat Pilot, he flew U-2’s, B-52’s and T-38’s. He was the very last pilot to ever be selected to fly the SR-71 just before the program was cancelled and subsequently went on to become a U2 pilot.
-------------
Lt. Col. Greg "Spanky" Barber, age 55, of Farmersville, Texas, passed tragically on December 31, 2016 in a two-plane accident in McKinney, Texas at approximately 5:30PM.
Greg, an elite and decorated United States Air Force pilot and flight instructor, was spending an afternoon of quality father-son time with Tim, his number-three son, doing what they both loved, flying. Greg had a passion for flying, serving his country, and humbly serving others.
Greg was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Farmersville and was active in the Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Project "Operation Appreciation" (sending care packages to our local troops currently deployed over-seas) and many other local and worthy causes.
Greg personified the phrase "Humble Servitude" touching literally thousands of fortunate lives during his short time on this earth. His love for service was only surpassed by the love of his family, countless friends and of course, the Lord. Spanky wholeheartedly loved his family, his community, his country, his faith, and he truly loved to fly.
Matthew 25:23: His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
Greg "Spanky" Barber is survived by his wife, two sons, daughter, daughter-in-law, parents, and sister. (Family member's names omitted to preserve privacy.)
Greg and his son, Tim, will also receive a military service, 1:30PM, Thursday, January 12, 2017 at the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, 2306 Sijan Drive, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado 80840.
Burial to follow at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery.
-----------------------
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun split clouds, and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of; Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 11 :00 a.m.
First United Methodist Church of Plano
3160 East Spring Creek Pkwy. Plano Texas, 75074
Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.
Greg "Spanky" and Tim will be buried at the
United States Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Greg “Spanky” Barber was a retired LT Col USAF pilot, loving husband and father. He was an exceptionally accomplished and very experienced pilot. Not only was he a USAF Instructor Pilot, a Cold War Alert Pilot, a Combat Pilot, he flew U-2’s, B-52’s and T-38’s. He was the very last pilot to ever be selected to fly the SR-71 just before the program was cancelled and subsequently went on to become a U2 pilot.
-------------
Lt. Col. Greg "Spanky" Barber, age 55, of Farmersville, Texas, passed tragically on December 31, 2016 in a two-plane accident in McKinney, Texas at approximately 5:30PM.
Greg, an elite and decorated United States Air Force pilot and flight instructor, was spending an afternoon of quality father-son time with Tim, his number-three son, doing what they both loved, flying. Greg had a passion for flying, serving his country, and humbly serving others.
Greg was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Farmersville and was active in the Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Project "Operation Appreciation" (sending care packages to our local troops currently deployed over-seas) and many other local and worthy causes.
Greg personified the phrase "Humble Servitude" touching literally thousands of fortunate lives during his short time on this earth. His love for service was only surpassed by the love of his family, countless friends and of course, the Lord. Spanky wholeheartedly loved his family, his community, his country, his faith, and he truly loved to fly.
Matthew 25:23: His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
Greg "Spanky" Barber is survived by his wife, two sons, daughter, daughter-in-law, parents, and sister. (Family member's names omitted to preserve privacy.)
Greg and his son, Tim, will also receive a military service, 1:30PM, Thursday, January 12, 2017 at the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, 2306 Sijan Drive, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado 80840.
Burial to follow at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery.
-----------------------
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun split clouds, and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of; Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Inscription
GREGORY A BARBER
LT COL US AIR FORCE
JUN 22, 1961 - DEC 31, 2016
SPANKY AVIATOR BEST FRIEND
LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER
T38 B52 U2 LUSCOMBE
Gravesite Details
Plot location and photo of marker to follow.
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