Eddie Barbary

Eddie Barbary
- Easley

James Edward "Eddie" Barbary, 67, of Easley, husband of the late Charlene Skelton Barbary, passed away Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at McCall Hospice House.

Born in Greenville, the son of Betty Hamby Barbary of Simpsonville and the late Donald Odell "Red" Barbary, Eddie was a graduate of Hillcrest High School and Clemson University where he played baseball and where he earned his Bachelor�??s degree in English and Education and his Master�??s degree in Administration and Supervision.

He played professional baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Organization and was a veteran of the US Army having graduated from the US Army Drill Sergeant School at Fort Gordon, GA and was Post Soldier of the Month in June of 1969.

Eddie was formerly principal of Simpson Academy, Gettys Middle School and assistant principal at Easley High School where he was head baseball coach from 1971-1974 and from 1980-1986 and was named head coach of the SC High School League North All-Stars. He was also formerly the Easley High head basketball coach where they won five Region I-4A championships and were 1976 SC Upper-State Champions. As head coach, Eddie had an overall record of 148-86 and was named head coach of the SC High School League Upper-State North All-Stars in 1981. He was also a former Easley High assistant football coach where he was the offensive coordinator from 1979-1986. Eddie organized and coached the Easley American Legion Baseball Team from 1972-1979 and was a coach at the Bill Wilhelm Baseball Camp at Clemson University from 1975-1984.

He organized and served as advisor for the INTERACT Club, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club, and was named Outstanding Young Educator by the Easley Jaycees in 1976. Eddie was a member of Easley Presbyterian Church. He was a former member of the adult choir and served as a Deacon and an Elder.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are a son, Travis Barbary and wife, Raquel, of Greenville; a daughter, Elizabeth Barbary Nix and husband, Marvin, of Central; a sister, Jane Barbary Jones of Gray Court; three step-sons, Charles McClure King and wife, Mackenzie, of Atlanta, Kendall McCreight King and wife, Sarah Kathryn, of Greenville and Walker McClain King of Charleston; and grandchildren, Chase Barbary, Colton Barbary, Carsyn Leigh Barbary, Cannon Barbary, Garrett Nix and Graydon Nix.

Memorial services will be 4:00 PM Thursday at Easley Presbyterian Church with the Reverends Christie Gravely and Stuart Houston officiating.

The family will receive friends in the church parlor immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Easley High Athletic Department, P.O. Box 129, Easley, SC 29641 or to American Legion Post 52, 118A Legion Street, Easley, SC 29642.

The family is at the home of Travis and Raquel Barbary, 117 Walnut Creek Way, Greenville, SC 29611.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown which is assisting the family.