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James Barry
JAMES HALFORD BARRY
6/26/1924 - 1/6/2016
Cedar Rapids
Jim passed away peacefully at home the evening of Jan. 6, 2016, after a long illness. The cause of death was cancer.
Capt. James Halford Barry, USN, retired, was born in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on June 26, 1924, to Halford T. Barry and Bess B. Barry, both of
Cedar Rapids. He graduated from Franklin High School and attended Iowa State College in Ames for one year before entering the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1947.
During his 30 years in the Navy, he served aboard the cruisers USS Macon and Juneau and submarines USS Irex SS 482, XO USS Blackfin SS 322 and CO USS Bluegill SS 22. He was CO of USS Bexar LPA 237 until her decommissioning, during which time Bexar was one of two ships to bring home the first contingent of Marines from Vietnam. He served on the staffs of COM First FLT, COM PHIB GRU3 in San Diego, CINCLANTFLT and COM5 Norfolk and chief of staff COM 12 San Francisco.
Jim earned an MS in mechanical engineering form the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and an MS in political science from George Washington University. He attended Naval War College. He taught for one year at the U.S. Naval Academy and was stationed for two years in Paris with NATO.
Upon retiring, Jim went to law school, passed the California Bar and practiced law for several years before retiring to take care of real estate interests. He was a member of the San Diego Crime Commisison, was active in the land use committee of the La Jolla Town Council and delivered Meals on Wheels, serving as chairman for two years.
Jim kept bees as a hobby and devised his own method of extracting honey to give to friends and neighbors. As an Eagle Scout in his youth, he was an experienced camper in the wild. He and his wife pitched their test at sites throughout the west, mostly in Utah and the Ruby Mountains of Nevada.
Sailing and travel were other favorite pasttimes. One memorable trip was throughout China to the western cities of Kashgar and Urumxi, over the mountains by jeep to the Hunza Valley and various points in Pakistan.
Jim leaves his wife of 68 years, the former Alice (Cita) Whitecotton; five children, Susan Barry Hooper (Steve) of San Diego, Charlotte Barry Williams (Dirk) of Oceanside, Calif., James Barry Jr. of Honolulu, Hawaii, Edith Barry of New York and Peter Barry (Nellie) of Hong Kong; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Interment is at Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego.
Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors or a charity of choice.
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