Obituary:  C. B. Barbee, February 2, 2010

Contributed by Brenda Scott Hines
February 2010

Copyright.  All rights reserved
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The Observer/Enterprise, Bronte, Coke County, TX - February 12, 2010

C. B. BARBEE	

Following a battle to recover from injuries suffered in a fall while 
working at his home, C. B. Barbee, 88 of Bronte succumbed Tuesday night 
February 2, 2010, at a San Angelo hospital.  In his passing, he is 
remembered as a man of enormous compassion and integrity who will be 
greatly missed by the community he served so many years.
 
Visitation was held all day Friday, February 5, 2010, with family present 
from 4 to 7 pm.  Funeral service was held at 2 pm Saturday, February 6, 2010 
at the First Baptist Church of Bronte, with burial following at Fairview 
Cemetery.  Services were under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home.

C. B. was born to John Raldolph (Rip) Barbee and Maggie Neely Barbee in Rule, 
Texas on July 5, 1921.  Then known as Beraline, he and his twin sister, 
Geraldine were the fifth and sixth of nine children.  He graduated from Rule 
High School in 1939, then matriculated to Howard Payne College in Brownwood, 
where his college career was interrupted by his service in World War II.  After 
the war, he returned to earn a Bachelor of Science degree at Howard Payne, and 
a Masters of Education degree from the University of Texas.

C. B. served the Public Schools of Texas as a Teacher, Coach, principal, and 
Superintendent, the last 25 as superintendent of Schools at Bronte I. S. D., 
the longest tenure in the history of Bronte or Coke County.  He was President 
of the Texas Small Schools Association in 1971-72.  He served on numerous 
educational committees at the state level and worked closely with Governor 
Preston Smith on legislation of benefit to Texas small schools.  He was active 
in the Texas Retired Teachers Association, serving for several years as 
District XV President.

C. B. taught Sunday School classes in the Baptist church for more than 50 years.  
He was ordained a Deacon in 1951 and was a faithful member of the church until 
his death.  With his wife, Wanda, he participated in more than 50 Baptist Lay 
Renewals in Texas, and served two years as the Director of the Adult Camp at the 
Heart of Texas Encampment at Lake Brownwood.  For many years, he was a consultant 
volunteer in the Mission Service Corp. of Texas.
 
For 20 years Mr. Barbee was director of the Bronte Community Chest.  He belonged 
to the Lions Club International for 45 years.  He was selected Citizen of the Year 
by the Bronte Lions Club in 1981, Citizen of the Year by the Bronte Chamber of 
Commerce in 2005 and 2007.
  
C. B. served in the Army Air Corps from 1942-1945.  He was a member of the 
famed 339th Fighter Squadron that shot down Admiral Yamamoto in the South Pacific 
on April 18, 1943.  He served in aircraft maintenance and before the war's end he 
was elevated to Line Chief, in charge of all the squadron's legendary P-38 aircraft.

He married Wanda Sue Nelson on May 23, 1948, who survives him.  He fathered three 
sons; Randy of New York; Alan of Arlington, Texas; and Ricky who died in infancy 
in 1955.  He had one daughter Leah Rosson, of Bronte.  His daughters-in-law are 
Ina Mayhew and Cara Barbee, and his son-in-law is Kerry Rosson.  He is survived by 
eight wonderful grandchildren: Anna Smith; Jess, Rob, Caleb and Addie Rosson; and 
by Nelson, Caitlyn, and Alyssa Barbee.  He is also survived by two energetic 
great-grandchildren: Ethan and Elizabeth Smith.  He has one surviving brother, 
Ernest, of Canton, Texas.

Permission granted by The Observer/Enterprise for publication
in the Coke County TXGenWeb and the Coke County Archives of the USGenWeb.