Rev. Robert A. Barron

Rev. Robert A. Barron, age 75, passed away at his home on Saturday, January 15, 2005 in the presence of his loving family. He was born on November 4, 1929 in Chicago, IL and was a resident of Wheaton, IL for the last 24 years.

Based on his own experiences as a young boy growing up in Chicago, Bob realized the importance of teaching children and teenagers the Word of God. Consequently, he devoted a lifetime of service to reaching and training boys and girls for Christ. After serving his country in Alaska during the Korean War, God led Bob into full-time Christian service as a youth pastor. He attended Northern Baptist Seminary in Chicago and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL for his undergraduate degree, and later earned a masters degree from Trinity. After college, he became a youth pastor and served at churches in Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis. Following 25 years of service as a pastor, he accepted a faculty position in the Christian Education department at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He taught at Moody for 15 years, retiring in 1995. From the age of 16, Bob was also involved with Awana clubs, starting with the original club program in Chicago during the 1940's. He served in local church Awana clubs wherever he lived and was a member of the board of directors for over 35 years.

Bob was a loving husband and a devoted father and grandfather. Those who knew Bob enjoyed his sense of humor, his boundless energy, his love of life and his evident passion for touching the lives of children. Though limited by physical illnesses at the end of his life, his faith in God's loving grace remained strong. Bob will be dearly missed by his family and friends, but all look forward to the day when they will meet again in Heaven.

Bob is survived by his wife of 48 years, Grace Barron; his children Jeff (Carolyn) Barron of Wheaton, Brenda (Thomas) MacDonald of Darlington, WI and Todd (Allyson) Barron of Wheaton; his nine grandchildren, Ethan, Brady, Alisha, Brant, Isaiah, Elsa, Bryce, Annika and Linnea; two brothers, William (Pat) Barron of California and Richard (Donna) Barron of Florida and nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at the Wheaton Evangelical Free Church, 520 E. Roosevelt Rd., where Bob was a member, on Saturday, January 22, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of a funeral service at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Robert A. Barron Urban Ministries Fund at Awana Clubs International, 1 East Bode Road, Streamwood, IL 60107-6658, the Wheaton Evangelical Free Church or Moody Bible Institute, 820 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60610.

Information and on-line guest book is available at hultgrenfh.com or call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.