THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 14, 1995 TAG: 9512140296
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B10 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Gurley Ambrose Barlow Jr., of 18171 Havlow Lane, died Dec. 13, 1995, in Obici Hospital.
He was a native of Isle of Wight County and a lifelong member of Smithfield Baptist Church where he sang for many years in the choir, served as deacon and on the finance committee, and at the time of his death, was trustee. After graduation from V.P.I. in 1940, he served as operations officer of the 71st AAA Group in Europe during World War II. In 1946, he was separated from active Army service but became active in the Army Reserve from which he retired as a colonel in 1971.
After retirement from the active Army service, he was associated with his father and two brothers in the operation of an extensive farming enterprise. At that time (1949-1953) he was on the local board of the Rural Electrical Association. He was president of the Smithfield Farmers, Inc. until it went out of business in 1993. He served on the Board of Trustees of Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation and was instrumental in establishing the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum to which he has recently been named chairman emeritus. He also was a director of the Merchants and Farmers Bank, now NationsBank.
In 1961, he was named to the Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors as the representative from Hardy District and served until 1975, filling the position of chairman for the last 10 years. He was Aide De Camp on the Military Staff of three governors of Virginia; The Honorable Mills E. Godwin, John N. Dalton, and Charles S. Robb. Other activities include work in the Kiwanis Club; American Legion Post 49; agriculture committees; Board of Directors of Historic St. Luke's; and membership in the Jamestown Society and Cedar Point Club. In 1982, he was chosen as Man of the Year by the Ruritan and Rotary clubs. In 1992 the Isle of Wight-Smithfield Chamber of Commerce recognized him ``for product excellence and distinguished service for 30 years.''
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara Haverty Barlow; daughter, Barbara Barlow Bucknall of Deep River, Conn.; brother, Joseph Augustus Barlow of Smithfield; and four nieces.
Graveside services will be conducted Friday at 2:30 p.m. in St. Luke's Memorial Park with Dr. Don Rhoton and Dr. Furman Kenny officiating. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum, 203 Governor St., Room 338, Richmond, Va. 23219, or the Isle of Wight County Museum, 103 Main St., Smithfield, Va. 23430. Colonial Funeral Home, Smithfield, is handling the arrangements. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB