Beryl Barkman

Burlington, NC Beryl V. Barkman, age 95, of 2045 Shirley Dr., Burlington, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 30, 2012 at UNC Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill. A native of LaMoille, Illinois, he was the son of the late Lester and Celia Mae Splain Barkman and husband for 69 and a half years of Mary Frances Norris Barkman who survives. Beryl, born on an Illinois farm in 1917, has found his way from a one room schoolhouse to heavenly mansions. On his path home, his trail lead to a degree from Monmouth College, Illinois, through heroic and decorated service during WW II in the US Navy as the gunnery officer on a destroyer, to an MBA from the University of Chicago, onto to two graduate degrees from Bob Jones University and then a PhD from the University of South Carolina. Along the way, both in the United States and abroad, he taught college, university, Bible Institute and Sunday School classes too numerous to list. He finally retired at the age of 85 as Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Finding the pace of life a little dull upon such retirement, he filled his remaining days as a member, deacon, usher and Sunday School teacher at Beacon Baptist Church, delivering Meals on Wheels in Burlington and tending to his home and yard. Words cannot express the deep sorrow of his wife and family in losing him from this life. Nevertheless, they rejoice in the certain knowledge that to be with Christ is far better while remembering him as he was here, echoing the words of the English poet, William Wordsworth: "That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love." Survivors include his wife, Mary Frances Norris Barkman of the home; sons, Gregory Norris Barkman and wife Marti of Hawfields, NC and Jonathan David Barkman of Easley, SC; daughter, Nancy Sue Rights and husband Michael of Brewster, NY; grandchildren, Jordana B. Duncan and husband Gabriel, Cherith B. Newton and husband Eric, Bethany B. Allgrove and husband Warren, Jessica B. Yelverton and husband Joel, David Barkman, Andrew Barkman and Elizabeth Rights; 4 great grandchildren and a brother, Elmer Barkman and his wife, Pat. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Virgil, Donald, Lester and Harold Eugene Barkman. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at Beacon Baptist Church with Rev. Greg Barkman and Rev. Gerald Counts officiating. Interment will follow in Alamance Memorial Park. Mr. Barkman will remain at Lowe Funeral Home and Crematory until being taken to the church to lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service. The family will receive friends at Lowe Funeral Home from 6-8 pm Monday and other times at the residence. Memorials may be made to Alamance Rescue Mission; 1519 N. Mebane St., Burlington, NC 27217.