Robert V. Barbiaux, 86, of Lower Burrell, died Saturday,
March 18, 2006, in Forbes Hospice, Pittsburgh.
Born Jan. 12, 1920, in Arnold, he lived in the Lower Burrell area all of
his life.
He was a World War II veteran, having served with the U.S. Army's 82nd
Infantry Division, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He was wounded on
D-Day and received the Purple Heart for bravery.
Mr. Barbiaux was a truck driver for Alcoa.
He was a member of St. Joseph Church, New Kensington. He attended all
sports events involving his children and grandchildren, and enjoyed
walking and picking different varieties of fruit.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Mary Louise "Mae" Seft Barbiaux;
three sons, Robert J. (Linda) Barbiaux of Sheffield Lake, Ohio, Daniel
(Sue) Barbiaux of New Kensington, and Larry (Dianne) Barbiaux of Lower
Burrell; two daughters, Donna Lee Barbiaux of Arnold, and Janice (Rick)
Palmer of Norvelt; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a
brother, John (Christine) Barbiaux of New Kensington.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Leopoldine Hubert
Barbiaux; a grandchild, Kristy Marie Barbiaux; three brothers, Gus,
Adolph and Joseph Barbiaux; and three sisters, Marie Scandrol, Vicki
VanDorn and Kathryn Rauch.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the
RUSIEWICZ OF ARNOLD FUNERAL HOME, 1400 Fifth Ave., where a blessing
service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Christian Funeral Mass will
be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph Church, New Kensington,
by the Rev. Larry Kulick. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park,
Lower Burrell.
(The Valley News Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa.) |
[courtesy of Barbara Guyer ]
Grave marker for Robert V. Barbiaux in Greenwood
Memorial Park, Lower Burrell (Westmoreland county), Pennsylvania.
Robert enlisted in the Army at Greensburg, PA on 24
May 1942.
On 16 October 1942, Pvt Barbiaux was amongst the
team of cadre that was transferred from the 507th PIR to the 508th PIR.
He was assigned to Company G.
On 23 February 1943, the Pfc Barbiaux was appointed to
the grade of Corporal..
Although hospitalized due to injuries sustained during
a practice jump on 20 August 1943, Sgt Barbiaux returned to duty on 2
September 1943.
The Sergeant participated in the Normandy jump and
apparently emerged from that campaign unscathed.
He was promoted to SSgt on 1 October 1944.
Whether he saw combat in Holland is unknown.
However, he was wounded in action in Belgium on 7
January 1945.
His military decorations include the bronze Star Medal
with OLC, Purple Heart and the Bronze Service Arrowhead device awarded
for participation in Normandy assault, |
