Barry Edward Blacka

Barry Edward Blacka of Stuarts Draft, Virginia died peacefully, after a long valiant struggle with cancer, on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at his home in Fairfax, Virginia at the age of 81.
Barry is survived by his wife, Lorayne Bliven Blacka; his children, Barry Edward Blacka II of Staunton VA, Annamarie Blacka Duff of Las Vegas NV, Rebecca Blacka Odiorne of Bluffton SC, Brian Frank Blacka of Eagle Mountain UT, Elena Blacka Crandell of Carson City NV; 16 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters: Rosalie Blacka Havenner of Ivy VA, Jack Blacka of Stuarts Draft VA, Harold Blacka of Stuarts Draft VA, Edward Blacka of Columbia MD, Joyce Blacka Miller of Staunton VA, and Tom Blacka of Charlotte NC; and numerous nieces and nephews. Barry is preceded in death by his first wife Emma Catherine Pritt, daughter Julie Blacka Shinn, and granddaughter Christine Marie Duff.
Barry was born on September 28, 1935 in Staunton, Virginia to Amos Paul Rupert Blacka and Helen Glotfelty Rinard Blacka. He grew up in Stuarts Draft at the Shenandoah Acres Resort developed by his parents in the 1930s. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School, where he played flute in the marching band. In 1958, he graduated from Davis & Elkins College with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. During college, he joined Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and later married another D&E student, Emma Catherine Pritt, in Montgomery, West Virginia. Between 1959 and 1967, they welcomed six children into their family.
Shortly after graduation, Barry served two years active duty in the U.S. Navy on the USS Pawcatuck, followed by 20 years in the U.S. Naval Reserve. While in the Reserves, he was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, retiring in 1981. In 1962, he and his wife moved to the Washington DC area, where he worked as an Analyst for the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) in Arlington, Virginia, retiring in 1991.
Barry lost his wife Catherine to cancer in 1984. He remained a widower until 1999, when he married Lorayne Bliven Blacka of Northern Virginia. They lived together at their Fairfax, Virginia home until his death.
Barry faithfully served his community as a church member and elder, family member, friend, and worker. He participated in the Presbyterian Church in his youth and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1975. His church service included helping families as a home teacher, visiting and blessing the sick and afflicted, doing missionary work, serving as a secretary and counselor in church organizations, assisting with Boy Scout and youth activities, helping maintain equipment in the Annandale Family History Center, and serving in the Washington D.C. Temple. Community service included leading and participating in charitable projects such as food drives, interdenominational projects, giving rides to doctor appointments, working in the food pantry, making food deliveries, and doing fundraising.
Barry enjoyed socializing and spending time with friends. He had a great sense of humor, humility, and a gift of helping strangers feel at ease. He also enjoyed being outdoors, including camping, walking, bicycling, gardening, yard work, and maintaining and fixing his house and other property.
A memorial funeral service is scheduled for 7:30-8:30pm on Wednesday, July 12 at the Annandale Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 3900 Howard Street, Annandale, Virginia 22003. A viewing is scheduled for 5:30-7:15pm at the same location. A graveside and burial service is scheduled on Thursday, July 13, at 12 Noon at Augusta Memorial Park, 1775 Goose Creek Road, Waynesboro, Virginia 22980. All are welcome to attend either or both services to remember and celebrate Barry’s life.
Donations in memory of Barry will be gratefully accepted by (1) Davis & Elkins College (see https://www.dewv.edu/alumni-giving/giving/ways-give and follow the instructions under "Gifts that Honor Others" on that page), or (2) LDS Philanthropies (see https://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/in-memoriam.html on how to donate to any LDS Philanthropy, including Humanitarian Services General Missionary Fund, Self-Reliance Services/Perpetual Education Fund, etc. in memory of Barry Blacka).
The family would like to thank friends and Capital Caring Hospice for their support during Barry’s final days.