On May 20th, 2025, Colonel Barr D. Younker, Sr., U.S. Air Force Retired, age 100, entered into eternal rest in Montgomery, Alabama, where he resided for the past seven years.
Barr, as he was known to his close friends and “Papa” as he was known to family, was born near Miola, Clarion County, Pennsylvania on April 23, 1925. He was the second of three children born to Charles Younker and Nancy McClaine Younker. Barr grew up in an area known as Pinoak, near Oil City, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Cranberry Township High School in June of 1943, and several days later followed his older brother, Bob, into Air Corps basic training to serve during World War II.
Barr attended basic training in Biloxi, Mississippi and was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program. Pilot training followed in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Greenville, Mississippi, and Stuttgart, Arkansas, after which he received his wings, a commission as a second lieutenant, and assignment as a B-24 pilot. Following the end of the war, Barr opted to use the G.I. Bill to attend the University of Pittsburgh, where he studied mechanical engineering. He and his older brother, Bob, a civil engineering major at “Pitt,” graduated on the same day in front of their parents and sister, Anne, in June of 1949.
During college, Barr renewed a relationship with the love of his life, Sarah Graham, who grew up near Barr in the town of Seneca. While studying at Pitt, Barr served in the Air Force Reserve, flying aircraft out of a unit located at the Pittsburgh airport. Several times, Barr managed to take an aircraft on a training flight up to Seneca, a 30-minute flight away, to “buzz” the farm where Sarah lived, much to the concern of his future mother-in-law, Florence.
Barr and Sarah were married in November of 1949 and resided in Franklin, Pennsylvania for about a year until Barr was recalled to active duty “for good” at the start of the Korean War. For the next twenty years, Barr and Sarah and kids (eventually totaling five in number) lived in Colorado, Mississippi, Georgia, Germany, North Carolina, Alabama, and Hawaii.
It was during an assignment to Hawaii in 1967 that Barr received orders to fly special operations C-123s in Vietnam for a year. After completing this dangerous tour, which included a serious crash where Barr’s back was broken, he returned to Hawaii and led the family to Charleston, S.C., where he flew C-141’s for three years. Later, at Dover AFB, Delaware, Barr led one of the first C-5A units, before returning to Charleston in early 1973. He retired there in 1974 in the grade of Colonel.
During his military career, Barr was a command pilot who flew single, twin, and four engine conventional and jet aircraft. He was credited with over 8,000 pilot flying hours, including 800 hours of combat flying time. He became qualified on 18 aircraft types, including the previously mentioned B-24, C-123, C-141, and C-5A, as well as the C-82, B-57, T-33, and B-66. He received many awards and decorations during his military career to include the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with valor device, two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, and three awards of the Air Medal. He also obtained graduate degrees from George Washington University and The Citadel and was a proud 1963 graduate of the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
Following his military career, Barr taught Math and Science at two middle schools and at Trident Technical College in Charleston. For many years he served as a dedicated Red Cross volunteer at the Naval and Air Force dispensaries. He was also a regular volunteer at Crisis Ministries and Habitat for Humanity and was a member for many years of Bethel United Methodist Church from where he received special recognition for his mission work. He was also a member of the Evanston Civic Club, the Low Country Coin Club, and the Military Officers Association of America.
Barr was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His interests included gardening, fitness pursuits, and woodworking. His family and friends were the recipients of his generosity of time and talent with carefully constructed cribs, rocking horses and refinished furniture.
Barr was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah, their daughter, the Reverend Ellen Younker, his parents, Charles and Nancy, his brother, Bob, and his sister, Anne Bossler. He is survived by daughters Carol Younker (Ray) of Cashiers, North Carolina, Susan of Boone, North Carolina, and Christine Ward (Michael) of Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is also survived by his son, Colonel Barr D. Younker, Jr. USAF-Ret. (Catherine) of Montgomery, Alabama, as well as nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to recognize the kind and helpful support of the staff at the Oak Grove Inn retirement home and the attendants and staff of Answered Prayer assisted care.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the charity of one’s choice. Barr will be laid to rest near Sarah in a private ceremony on a date not-yet-determined at the Beaufort National Cemetery in South Carolina.