 Richard Joseph Barr
March 26, 1933 – September 15, 2024
I really liked Rich Barr and looked up to him for his legacy of Surveying and Civil Engineering, the way he worked with clients personally, the way he took interest in teaching surveyors and engineers about the fundamentals of projects, and for everything he did legislatively for surveyors and engineers in Missouri and in Washington DC. Early in my career at Clayton Engineering, Rich asked me to read through stacks of proposed legislation affecting surveyors because he wanted a younger generation’s insight. He often asked us to work on projects so that we could help resolve the situations for the people who needed it, because he cared about helping the people. He worked hard, diligently and he was good at it. He has nothing less than a career and a lifetime of surveying and civil engineering accomplishments. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and to all of those who knew him and worked with him. He was 91. – Austin DeSain, PLS
Obituary:
In Loving Memory to a Life Well Lived and a Man Well Loved
Richard Joseph Barr of Kirkwood, MO, quietly passed away in hospice at Garden View Care Center in St. Louis. He was 91 years old and had struggled with dementia for years following a stroke. On September 15, 2024, after being surrounded by his daughters and wife, he quietly left this life for peaceful rest.
Rich was born on March 26, 1933 to Raymond and Lucille Barr (nee Besancenez) in Chesterfield, MO. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Dorothy “Dot” (Bob) and a brother, Rolla.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Rose (nee Borbein), children Wendy (Tom Blair) and Megan, his brother Donald (Barbara), nephew Bryan (Cheryl), nieces Kathy (Terry), Michelle (Tom); his sister-in-law Norma (nee Borbein), Harry Menke, and nieces Betsy (Brian) and Amy (Steve), plus numerous cousins and friends.
Rich had a full and happy life. He worked hard but always with a positive attitude and a smile on his lips that made his blue eyes twinkle. He was active in sports at Mercy High, both on the baseball and football teams. After graduating from Mercy, Rich enlisted into the United States Air Force and proudly served his country in the Korean War. After his military service, he finished his formal education at the University of Missouri-Rolla, obtaining a degree in Civil Engineering.
In the summer of 1962 he met his future bride, Barbara. The two were married in 1963, had a baby girl they named Wendy, and not long afterwards, Rich became a full partner in The Clayton Engineering Company. Soon the family would welcome a second baby girl, a beauty named Megan, and move to Kirkwood, MO.
Rich lived to work hard and was just as passionate about his first favorite pastime, baseball. He was highly involved in the George M. Khoury League baseball program, whose motto “The Khoury League Is Interested In The Child That Nobody Else Wants,” and minor league baseball, managing several teams in both. He was proud to help youth find a positive path in life by doing their best in school while honing their skills on the baseball diamond.
Although best known as the President and owner of The Clayton Engineering Company, and later, R. Barr Consulting, Rich was noted for serving on the Board of Directors for several associations, including The Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 1986.
He was involved with the SITE Improvement Association, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Missouri Association of Registered Land Surveyors, and many more. An avid golfer, Rich was a member and past president at Algonquin Golf Club.
Passionate about politics, he proudly accepted his appointment by then governor Christopher “Kit” Bond to the National Society of Professional Surveyors, which participated as a PAC (political action committee) both in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C., spending countless hours lobbying for legislation. He also proudly served as a council member for the City of Kirkwood, MO.
In his spare time, he loved fishing, hunting, shooting pool, playing poker with his brothers and best friend John Larsen, attending St. Louis Cardinal baseball games and socializing with family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Heart Association; heart.org.
Bopp funeral home has his obituary and comment wall with tree donations: https://www.boppchapel.com/obituaries/Richard-Joseph-Barr?obId=33329023
Rich will have a Final Point monument made by Bernsten. The National Society of Professional Surveyors provides Final Point monuments for all past directors. The marker is in production now and planned to be given to Rich’s family at the St. Louis Chapter meeting on December 11th, 2024 at the offices of Clayton Engineering.