Hansel Claudell Barbe

Hansel Claudell Barbe, age 75, of Old Fields, WV, left this earth on Wednesday, January 4, 2006. Mr. Barbe passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family and caregiver Lynn Lyon and Hospice nurse Sherry Kisamore. Born January 1, 1931 in Flats, WV, he was the son of the late Claude Barbe of Purgitsville, WV, and the late Pearl Miller Wilkins and Cleland Wilkins of Moorefield, WV. Mr. Barbe was raised by his maternal grandparents, Daniel Matthew Miller and Sarah Coffman Miller of Old Fields, WV. In addition to his parents and grandparents, Mr. Barbe was preceded in death by a grandson, Hayes Coppe, in 1990. Mr. Barbe served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean War. Following his discharge from the Army, Mr. Barbe returned to the family farm in Old Fields, where he continued to farm throughout his lifetime. On August 6, 1959, Mr. Barbe married Betty Lou Elizabeth Thorne of Dorcas, WV, and together, they have shared 46 years of love and devotion. In 1969, Mr. Barbe was hired as Hardy County Deputy Assessor. In 1979, he was elected to his first term as Assessor of Hardy County, and served in that capacity until his retirement on December 31, 1992. In addition to his loving wife, Mr. Barbe is survived by his daughter, Beverly Barbe Coppe, & son-in-law H. D. Coppe and grandson Seth Anderson Coppe, of Old Fields, WV, and by his very special extended family, Daniel and Diana Lyons, Denise Lyons Patterson, husband Steven and son Bryce Patterson, and Denver Lyons, all of Winchester, VA. Mr. Barbe is also survived by his maternal siblings, Elda Wilkins Smith of Moorefield, WV, Dean Wilkins Hudson of Kingman, AZ, Delmas Wilkins of Woodbridge, VA, and Nola Wilkins Rodgers, of Lexington Park, MD. His surviving paternal siblings include William ?Eddie? Barbe of Burlington, WV, Robert Garland Barbe of Fort Washington, MD, Harlan Barbe of Baltimore, MD, John Barbe of Romney, WV, Wyndam Barbe Brake of Frederick, MD, Kale Barbe and Barbara Barbe of Winchester, VA. In addition, Mr. Barbe is survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Mr. Barbe was a member of the Moorefield Church of the Brethren, Hardy County Democratic Men?s Club, American Legion Post 64 and VFW Post 9606. Funeral Services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Saturday at the Fraley Funeral Home in Moorefield with Pastor Harold Garber officiating. Interment will follow with Military Graveside Rites accorded by the US Army and the Moorefield Veteran?s Honor Guard at the Bethel Cemetery, Old Fields, WV. The family will receive friends from 4 ? 9 PM Friday at the Fraley Funeral Home in Moorefield. Pallbearers will be Kevin Heare, Donald Leatherman, John Pratt, Emory Miller, Bryan Leatherman and Q.R. Leatherman. A Veteran?s Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 PM Friday evening at the Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Grant Memorial Hospice; PO Box 1026, Petersburg, WV 26847.