George W Barfield

George W. Barfield, 94, passed away on Friday, November 13, 2020 at the Lakeland Hospice in Lakeland, Florida after an extended battle with cancer.

He was born in Vidalia, Georgia on February 24, 1926, the son of the late George Jasper and Essie Mae Hamilton Barfield. He grew up in central Georgia before joining the Navy during World War 2 where he proudly served as a Navy Seal in the south Pacific. He later served in the Army during the Korean War and in the Georgia Army National Guard after that. In between, he married the late Frankie Johnson Barfield and managed to have 6 children. He also worked for the Georgia Power Company and frequently moved around central Georgia with Frankie and family. He spent many long hours hanging from power poles during severe storms to try and keep the lights on. George and Frankie moved to Hinesville, Georgia in 1961 and remained there until 1990. During that period, they also managed the Liberty County airport from 1967 until 1990. George had learned how to fly at an early age and had many adventures as a crop duster, flight instructor, and private pilot. He and Frankie were a well-known feature at the airport greeting many prominent Georgians and others who visited Liberty County. George also enjoyed fishing and camping at the coast. George then went to work for the Federal Aviation Administration in 1990 in Hilliard, Florida and he and Frankie moved to Jacksonville. Following the passing of his late wife, George moved to Auburndale, Florida where he met and married Alminda Arebalo Oviatt, better known as Mimi. After George became ill, Mimi took great care of George and worked with the VA to ensure he had the best care and treatment. They lived in Auburndale until his passing, where she still resides. Up until his passing, George most enjoyed riding around the neighborhood on his scooter, his weekly phone calls with his sister, Irpeel, and the visits by his nephew, Jimmy Barfield and his wife JoAnne from Las Vegas.

George was preceded in death by his first wife, Frankie Barfield, a daughter, Jennie Barfield Minchey; two sons-in-law, Teddy J Brown and Doug Hanson; one grandson, Kyle Brown; and his three brothers, Edgar and his late wife Epsie Lee, Bennie and Amos Barfield. He is survived by his wife, Mimi; his two sister and brother in-laws, Irpeel and Thelbert Blaxton of Vidalia, Georgia and Joyce and Jack DeVitt of Hephzibah, Georgia, and sister in-law, Betty Barfield of Cartersville, Georgia; 2 daughters and son-in-law, Kathie and Dennis Duke of Green Cove Springs, Cindy Hanson of Middleburg, Florida; three sons and daughters-in-law Bill and Linda Barfield of Ludowici, Georgia, Bob and Robin Barfield of Allenhurst, Georgia, and John and Barbara Barfield of Flora Home, Florida; grandchildren. Kimberly Duke Boulware, Kristy Duke Davis, Robert Frank Stanley, Teddy J Brown, Jr., Jason Brown, Rachael Barfield, and John Randall Barfield, Jr; as well as numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

As a veteran, George’s remains will be interred at the National Cemetery in Glennville, GA. Due to the current COVID pandemic, only a graveside service for the family is planned.