Arthur Leroy Barrick

MSG (Ret) Arthur Leroy Barrick, 71, of Phenix City, Ala., passed from this life at his home on Saturday, June 25, after a long battle with cancer.

MSG Barrick was born October 8, 1944, in Carlisle, Penn., son of the late Roy Andrew and Thelma Young Barrick Akers. He had made his home in Phenix City since 1977.

He graduated from Carlisle High School in 1964, where he was a varsity baseball and football player, and a pole vaulter, and entered the Army shortly thereafter. He served his country in Vietnam in 1966-1967, and was awarded a Purple Heart. While in Vietnam, he shot and killed a Bengal Tiger that was attacking and killing the local villagers.

In 1982 he was medically retired from the Army after 18 years. He then earned an associate's degree in drafting from Meadows College and worked for Civil Service at Fort Benning with the 3rd Ranger Battalion, the COFT Branch and the Bradley NETT Team, retiring in 2003.

MSG Barrick was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Ronald Barrick; and a nephew, Johnny Barrick.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Bessie Brock Barrick; his son Patrick Barrick, daughter-in-law Lisa and granddaughters Emily, Catherine and Addison Barrick of Hoover, Ala.; his daughter Alicia Barrick Graessler of Phenix City, Ala.; his brother Richard Barrick of St. Paul, Minn.; his granddaughter Victoria Marie Allison of Unionville, Mo.; his niece Dianna Barrick of St. Paul, Minn.; his sister-in-law Diane Brock Dupre of Schriever, La.; his niece Laurie Murchison Attaway, her husband Brandon and daughter Bella of Shreveport, La.; and his niece Virginia Ambrose Eschete, her husband Drake, daughter Layla and stepson Jerome of Schriever, La.

MSG Barrick was a Baptist and attended Grace Baptist Church in Columbus, Ga.

He loved hunting, fishing, planting and growing flowers in his yard, and watching TV, especially football. He was an avid Pittsburg Steelers fan.

Visitation will be Monday, June 27, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Vance Funeral Home, 280 Bypass, Phenix City. Services will be held in the chapel of Vance Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 28, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Seth Hon officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Memory Gardens, Phenix City.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Art's memory to the Building Fund at Grace Baptist Church, 2915 14th Avenue, Columbus, Ga. 31904 or to Gentiva Hospice.