John Franklin "Frank" Barber
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The tri-state area of WV/VA/NC has lost a founding father of its aviation community with the passing of Frank Barber at age 96.
Countless students learned to fly through his capable instruction, in both powered aircraft and gliders. Flight instructors had to pass inspection for their renewal certificates through his exacting exams. And CEOs of local corporations were flown to distant meetings by this jet-rated pilot.
Frank was 10 years old when he had his first plane ride, a promotion paid for with 50 cents and 50 RC Cola caps. That short trip triggered his life-long love of flying and aircraft. Washing planes and other odd jobs around the airport financed his lessons, and he soloed when he turned 16. On his 18th birthday, he received his commercial pilot's license, his flight instructor's rating and then hurried off to graduate from high school that evening.
One of his early students was his future wife, Pat Whinnery. Thus began a long life of shared love of aviation and each other. On October 29, they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. Sadly, Pat passed away from RSV on December 8. Frank, who was suffering from Alzheimer's, lasted barely a month more, his weakened heart finally breaking.
And yet his was a life well lived. He entered the Army Air Corps in 1944 and was training to be an instructor for B-17 pilots when World War II ended. Frank and Pat married in 1947 in Charleston, WV, while he was working as a instructor at a flight school for veterans. In 1950, he became one of the first three air traffic controllers at Charleston's new Kanawha Airport, a challenging assignment since the runways were often shrouded in fog or smog. A few years later, he relocated to the tower at Winston-Salem's Smith-Reynolds Airport. It was there that he developed his second family?his airport family. On days off he stayed busy passing on his love of flying to his students.
Frank served 25 years as an air traffic controller, retiring in 1975. Then he went back to work for the Federal Aviation Administration as a Designated Pilot Examiner, a career that lasted 28 more years and over 2,300 flight checks. Meanwhile, he also flew corporate jets. Not enough? He and Pat also fell in love with gliders, and were longtime members of soaring clubs, first in Burlington, NC and later in New Castle, VA.
In 2006, Pat and Frank were each presented with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for their contributions to the advancement of aviation safety. At that time, they were the only married couple in North Carolina to have received the award.
Frank is survived by daughter Nancy Barber Olson (husband Stan) and their sons Kenny (Jessica) and Scotty (Hannah), and by son David (wife Patty) and their son Ben (Becca). A funeral service will be held at the Salem Funeral Home , 2951 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC, on Saturday, January 21 at 2 PM. There will be viewing beforehand and visitation afterward. Condolences may be sent to Nancy at 7023 Tabor Lane, Charlotte, NC, 28211, or to David at 1372 Smartview Lane, Forest, VA, 24551. Online condolences may be sent through www.salemfh.com