Forest Hewitt Barbin

Forest Hewitt Barbin September 29, 1923 – June 26, 2010 Forest Hewitt Barbin of Waco died peacefully Saturday, June 26, 2010, at his home surrounded by his loving wife and children. Graveside services will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 29, at Waco Memorial Park Mausoleum. Visitation will be Monday, June 28, 5 to 7 p.m. at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Forest was born on September 29, 1923, in Marksville, LA to Ellen Bettevy and Forest Belvieu Barbin. After graduation from Marksville Schools in June 1940, he attended Port Arthur Business College in Texas until April 1941. Forest then worked in Houston at Texas State Hotel, Wilson Fraser Pianos, Maritime Commission and Houston Shipbuilding Commission. Then he enlisted into the Merchant Marines and served as an Ensign from Oct. 1942 to Feb. 1946, in all war theatres, delivering supplies to our troops abroad during WWII. Forest married Beatrice LaCour on March 7, 1945, at St. James Catholic Church in Port Arthur. After the war he returned to Port Arthur and was employed by DuPont in Orange, TX, from 1946 to 1982. His three children were reared in Port Arthur. After his retirement from DuPont, Forest and Bea moved to Waco in 2003. He was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church. Forest became very active in the HOT Retired Senior Volunteer Program of McLennan County, and met many new friends during weekly excursions to McDonald's "Coffee Group," whose friendships and visits he greatly treasured. His home in Waco served as a central meeting place for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom he loved. Forest was preceded in death by his parents, and all of his 5 siblings. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Bea; daughter, Phyllis Ann Barbin McLellan; son, Dr. Gary Kent Barbin and wife, Jody; and daughter, Linda Kay Barbin Bowers and husband, Reggie. His grandchildren are James McLellan and wife, Amber, John McLellan and wife, Christina and great-grandaughter Emma, Lori Barbin Espinosa and husband, Jaime, Luke Barbin and wife, Lauren, Clay Barbin and wife, Kylie, Eric Bowers and wife, Marisol; and great-grandchildren, Adriana and Patrick, Jackie Bowers Logvinoff and husband, Nick, and great-grandson, Tristan. Honorary pallbearers are Reggie Bowers, James McLellan, John McLellan, Luke Barbin, Clay Barbin, Eric Bowers, Jaime Espinosa, and Nick Logvinoff. The family would like to recognize and thank: Dr. Robert Anderson and Texas Oncology Staff, Waco Internal Medicine Staff, Providence Hospital's Second Floor Outpatient Staff and Providence Hospice for their loving care and support. Memorials may be made to Providence Hospice, HOT-RSVP, St. Louis Catholic Church or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirson-hatch-bailey.com.