Barry was overly fond of chocolate. It’s a known fact that if there was any in the house, he’d eat it and lie about it, even though he had sugar diabetes. He didn’t trust the pharmaceutical companies, democrats, MSNBC, doctors or salespeople. He was often grumpy to the point of embarrassment, when in the company of a crying baby, even his own grandchildren. He made his homemade ice cream every Father’s Day. And we all told him it was the best, even though his ex-mother-in-law, Hilda, actually made one that was a little better. He was a fan of Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson and would turn up the radio and chair dance to their songs in his truck. He would call and sing Happy Birthday, Happy Mother’s Day, Happy Halloween, Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas songs to us on each occasion, beginning it with, “Me, me, me, me, me…” just like Bugs Bunny. More often than not, he was watching Gunsmoke in the afternoon. His favorite drink was Jack Daniels and bought shares of it for each of his sons-in-law, when he still had sons-in-law. During the height of the ricin scare in the early 2000s, he once yelled, “It’s gonna blow,” at the Food World check-out because a bag of White Lily had burst and the powder was trickled all along the conveyor belt. Everyone ducked.
He played the Offensive Line for Coach Bryant, alongside football greats like Joe Namath, Leslie Kelly and Snake Stabler, at the University of Alabama, 1964-1968 and was part of two National Championship teams. Coach Bryant once caught Barry imitating him before the entire team, had them all laughing until they suddenly stopped. Coach Bryant was in the doorway. Daddy was made to “go on.” Afterward, Coach Bryant told Barry, “You don’t look like me, you don’t sound like me, you are nothing like me.”
Barry never gave up hope that his youngest daughter, Missie, would arrive on time. And she never did. He never stopped flirting and had all the nurses in dialysis looking forward to his visits. In the 70’s, when his CB radio handle was “Tar Baby,” he was perhaps the greatest driveway basketball player known, allowing for “free-ins” to all his children. No one could grill a cheeseburger like Barry, and no one appreciated a pan of homemade banana pudding like him. He had a thousand-watt smile, which he passed on to his children and shared with almost everyone he met.
He is preceded in death by his parents: Amy and Orville Willoughby.
He leaves behind his loving wife: Sheila; four children: Mary Willoughby Pound, Wesley Todd Willoughby, Melissa George Willoughby, Warren Cole Willoughby and Tara Horne; eight grandchildren; his sister: Sonya Willoughby Cabri and brother: Van Willoughby, along with a slew of nephews and nieces. The world won’t be nearly as much fun without him.
The family invites you to his visitation at Moss Funeral Home, Cullman, Alabama, on June 14, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., and the graveside service at 1:30 p.m. at Cullman City Cemetery.
