Clifford “Skip” Barbe, 74, Geronimo, OK

Memorial Service with Military Honors by the U.S. Marine Corps at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home Chapel, Walters, OK on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 10:30 a.m., Ben Redmond and Apostal Ray Garcia officiating. Ret. Master Seargent Clifford Earl “Skip” Barbe was born October 15, 1949 in Loco, OK to Athel Leroy and Vivian Annie (Turner) Barbe and departed this life March 24, 2024 in Bonham, TX at the age of 74 years, 5 months, and 9 days.

Skip grew up in Walters, graduating from Walters High in 1967. After graduating he worked as a farrier and a machinist for a time. He married Loretta Janice Lawson on June 1, 1969 and to the union a daughter, Stephanie was born.

August 20,1970, he joined the Marine Corps, and over the course of his 21-year service he was stationed in California, Kentucky, Indiana, Arizona, Texas, Japan (several times), Lebanon, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. During his time in the service Jan mainly headquartered in Walters.

His military service included 17 years as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician achieving the highest level of proficiency as a Master EOD Technician and participating in special operations around the world that included the removal of explosive hazards and remnants of war from the environment as well as disassembly and inerting of unknown foreign munitions. For his efforts in hostile environments he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal along with the many other personal medals and Letters of Appreciation he received in his career.

After retiring a Master Sergeant from the Marine Corps in 1991 they moved to Wichita Falls, TX where she taught at the Math Science Center and he contracted with DC working in Florida, Maryland, and Afghanistan. In the Mid 90s they moved west of Walters and then to Geronimo in 1999 where they have made their home since that time.

Skip enjoyed leather working, making saddles, chaps, braided bridles and reins, protective jackets for hog dogs, headstalls, and breast harnesses. He enjoyed training colts, raising mares and foals, and all things rodeo: serving as clown, riding bulls and broncs, and teaching Stephanie to ride barrels.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Betty Ann Beam.

Survivors include his wife Jan of the home; his daughter and son-in-law Stephanie Hale and Rob of Walters; 3 grandchildren, Randen Alexander Holder and Brittany of Denver, CO, Synder Olivia “Liv” Holder of Ponder, TX, and Sawyer Logan W. Hale of Geronimo; 3 great-grandchildren, Joseph Gonzales, Eleanor Gonzales, and Ben Chavez; his brother, Wayne Barbe of Lawton, OK; a sister, Barbara Barbe of Kemmerer, WY; many other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the EOD Warrior Foundation, 716 Crestview Ave, Niceville, FL 32578.