William R. Barger

William Raymond Barger, age 96, of Gambrills, MD, passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2014. He was born April 4, 1918, in Baltimore and was known as Ray to family and friends in his younger years. Bill was the son of Maurice Stabler Barger and Elsie Elizabeth "Lizzie" Emrine. His older sister Mary Elizabeth Barger passed away as a child in 1928 and his younger brother George Frank Joseph Barger passed away in 1977.

In 1941 Bill married Pauline Katherine Seltzer. They were married for 43 years, much of it spent in service to their country in the United States Air Force. Pauline passed away in 1984 at the age of 66. They are survived by three children: William R. Barger, Jr. of Cobb Island, MD, John L. Barger of Manchester, NH, and Linda K. Gagne, of Hanover, MD. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Bill entered the Army Air Corps in 1943. Between 1946 and 1958 he served in the 755th, 107th, 108th, 169th, 145th, 1928th, 1921st, 1958th, and 1938th AACS Squadrons. His specialty was communications. In 1948 he participated in the Joint Task Force 7 (Project Sandstone) Atomic Bomb Tests at Enewetak Atoll. Bill was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service and retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1967 as a Chief Master Sergeant.

He subsequently worked for American Security Bank, Computer Sciences Corporation, Johns Hopkins and Baxter Laboratories before retiring in 1975.

In 1985 Bill married Eileen P. Miner (nee Riddell). They lived in New Hampshire and Maryland and were married for 30 years when Eileen passed away recently on April 16, 2014. Surviving stepchildren are Michael, Robert, and Gary Cooper, Alvina Cooper Hiatt and Jack Miner along with their children.