Ralph Barbour
Ralph Barbour

South Royalton, Vt. — Ralph Curtis Barbour, 76, of South Royalton, was welcomed from his earthly home, into the Kingdom of Heaven on Saturday, March 17, 2018.

Curt was born, son of Ralph and Elsie Barbour, June 13, 1941. He grew up in Hartland, Vt. and graduated from Windsor High School in 1959. Curt began his career as a machinist in East Hartford, Conn. at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. He married his High School Sweetheart, Joanne Bissell, on June 13, 1963. They lived in Conn. until 1973 when they moved to South Royalton. Curt worked at Cone Blanchard in Windsor, then at New England Tool and Machine, later named North Hartland Tool Corporation. Curt retired from North Hartland Tool Corporation in 2016.

The Barbours attended Beth-El Christian Fellowship, a Foursquare Gospel Church in South Royalton, later to become Journey Church. Curt was a licensed Minister and Foursquare Disaster Relief Chaplain with the ICFG. Known as Pastor Curt, he served for years on the Pastoral and Marriage Ministry Teams under Senior Pastor David Wright. Curt never retired from ministering to others.

Curt enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing and eating Buffalo wings with his many friends at Village Pizza.

Curt is survived by his wife of over 54 years, Joanne, of South Royalton; brothers Dennis Barbour (and wife Patricia) of Reading, Vt., Paul Barbour (and wife Sheila) of Hartland Four Corners, Vt.; sisters Catherine Craig of Keysville, N.Y., Janet Bunker (and husband David) of Charlestown, N.H.; sister-in-law Barbara Barbour of Hartland, and sister-in-law Barbara Loyer of Windsor, Vt.; as well as many nieces and nephews. Curt was predeceased by his brother Peter Barbour of Hartland.

Curt lived to share the love, mercy and compassion of the Lord he so loved. He is and will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held, Friday evening April, 13, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. at the United Church of South Royalton (Also known as The Red Door Church) with Pastor Joshua Moore officiating.

Condolences to Curt’s family may be made in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Curt’s memory may be made to the South Royalton Rescue Squad, 53 Safford St., South Royalton, VT 05068.