BARROW, Robert “Chip”
Mr. Robert Walker “Chip” Barrow, Jr., of Cedartown, Ga. passed away Monday, April 8, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Cynthia Karer Barrow (Cindy), formerly of Laurel, MS.
Chip was born on October 5, 1937, in Albertville, Al, to Mrs. Grace Treadaway Barrow and Mr. Robert W. Barrow, Sr. His family moved to Cedartown when he was 4 years old.
Chip graduated from Cedartown High School in 1955 and later attended North Georgia College and Auburn University, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Following his college years, he was an active member of the Army National Guard of Alabama for seven years. Prior to his retirement, Chip spent his last twenty working years employed by the Polk School District. He began as a vocational education instructor in electromechanics at Cedartown High School and was later appointed director of the maintenance department for the entire school district. Chip loved these jobs-working with the students and “working to keep the school doors open,” as he described it.
Chip referred to his high school days as his “Peek Park days.” During the summer months, his job was to maintain the park’s tennis courts in the morning, run home a block away for a quick pb&j sandwich, then return to the swimming pool where he was a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons. And of course, there were also the impromptu diving exhibitions put on by him and his swimming buddy, Bitsy Monroe.
Chip was a lover of music, especially classical music, so his parents thought it was advantageous for him to take piano lessons. Unfortunately, the only good memory Chip had of this experience was knowing that his buddy, Roy Philpot, was right outside the window
ZDLWLQJ IRU KLP WR ¿QLVK VR
they could go to Peek Park. In high school, Chip discovered the magic of drums and found his place in the CHS marching band.
Chip loved the great outdoors, whether it was working in his yard or deer hunting in the deep woods of South Georgia. He and several other gentlemen founded the Bottoms Hunting Club
QHDU /XPSNLQ *HRUJLD ¿IW\
years ago. The beginning of deer season was one of the highlights of his year, and he treasured time spent in the deer stand and around the
¿UH ZLWK KLV KXQWLQJ EXGGLHV
Chip was considered a leader at The Bottoms and was always willing to share his wisdom with its younger members. His place in the club has been passed down to his son John and his grandson Burkley.
Chip was a gentle, loving Christian man with a gift of giving to others. The most precious gift anyone could give to him was to ask for his help or advice on how
WR VROYH D ³¿[ LW´ SUREOHP
As director of maintenance for PSD, he would never ask his work crew to do a job that he himself would not do. Chip loved his teaching years at CHS, and he felt a certain pride in being able to share his technical knowledge with his students. In his later years, nothing touched his heart like having some of his former students tell him that what they learned in his classroom had a direct impact on their lives and their chosen career paths.
Survivors include his sons: David Barrow (Christy) and John Barrow (April), both of Cedartown; stepdaughters: Christy Labrec (David) of Springhill, TN, and Jennifer
Thompson (Todd), of Tega Cay, SC; and his grandchildren: Walker Barrow, Zane Barrow, Eli Barrow, Maryn Barrow, Burkley Barrow, Patrick LaBrec, Christopher Labrec, Ben Thompson, and Brayton Thompson. He is also survived by his sister, Susan Barrow Tipton of Phoenix City, Al; cousins, Sloan Barrow of Mount Zion, Ga. and Lee Barrow of Austin, TX; sister-inlaw, Susan Karer Garrett of Jackson, MS; brother-in
ODZ -Hɣ .DUHU RI -DFNVRQ
MS; and nephew and godson Louis Garrett of Columbus, OH.
Funeral services were held, Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 2:00 PM at the Cedartown First Methodist Church, with
3DVWRU %ULWW 0DGGHQ -U Rɤciating. Eulogies will be given by John Barrow, Sammy Stephens, and Doug Elliot.
Serving as pallbearers were Lloyd Gray, Jr., Harold Wyatt, Sr., Charles Byrd, Clay Love, Steve Timms, and Dr. Neil Gordon. Honorary pallbearers are Doug Elliot, Yancy Moore, John Burkart, Charles (Ju) McCown, Elaine Ashley, Doug Ratledge, members of The Bottoms Hunting Club, and his former students at CHS.
,Q OLHX RI ÀRZHUV SOHDVH
consider a donation to the Polk County Humane Society (https://www.cedartownpolkcountyhumanesociety. com/donate).
The Smith & Miller Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Robert Walker “Chip” Barrow, Jr.
SMILE BECAUSE HE LIVED
You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him, or you can be full of the love that you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember him and only that he is gone, or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn back, or you can do what he would want: Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
— Author Unknown
REMEMBER ME Remember me in quiet days, while raindrops whisper on your pane. But in your memories have no grief, let just the joy we knew remain. Remember me when evening stars look down on you with steadfast eyes. Remember if once you wake to catch a glimpse of red sunrise. And when your thoughts do turn to me, know that I would not have you cry. But live for me and laugh for me, when you are happy, so am I. Remember an old joke we shared; remember me when spring walks by. Think once of me when you are glad, and while you live, I shall not die.
— Author Unknown
“How many slams in an old screen door? Depends how loud you shut it. How many slices in a bread? Depends how thin you cut it. How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ‘em. How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give ’em.”
— Shel Silverstein