NATICK: William John Barr, age 63, a former longtime resident of Natick, died on February 12, 2016, at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. He was the beloved son of the late Laurence and Agnes (Benedict) Barr.
Born, raised and educated in Natick, Bill was a 1971 graduate of Natick High School. Initially a groundskeeper at Wellesley College, Bill was later employed for many years as a surveyor. He had recently moved to Framingham and had been working as a roofer until he retired due to illness.
Bill was a man of many interests, both active and sedentary. He was proud of his Scottish heritage. A talented artist, he enjoyed sketching, etching and particularly creating architectural drawings with the eye of a draftsman. His active enjoyments encompassed biking, fishing, camping in New Hampshire, and on one occasion building a log cabin in northern New Hampshire on a friend’s property. A Boston sports fan, Bill followed the Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics. He had a devotion to St. Francis of Assisi and loved to sit back and watch all manner of animals in the wild. Bill was a caring and thoughtful brother, a loving uncle and granduncle, and cherished his dogs, Smokey and Fred. He also had a penchant for Sudoku puzzles. He had recently moved to Framingham.
He is survived by his two devoted sisters, Christina M. Marden and her husband Richard of Holliston, and Barbara B. Kampersal of Holden and her longtime companion, Gerald Berry of Rutland; four nephews, Ryan Patrick Marden, Rein P. Kampersal, Jr. and his wife Melissa, and Gregory J. and Alexander S. Kampersal; two grandnieces, Rachael and Caroline; a grandnephew, Christian; and many loving cousins in Connecticut and New York.
His funeral service will be held in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Sunday, February 28th at 1:00PM. Relatives and friends may visit with Bill’s family beginning at 11:00AM.
Bill’s family is grateful to the staff of Wingate at Sudbury for providing Bill with respectful and compassionate care, which allowed him go through his final days with dignity.