Barry L. Maxwell, age 54 of Russells Point, Ohio, passed away on September 29, 2007 at the Upper Valley Medical Center in Troy, Ohio.
He was born December 20, 1952 to Sherry and Judy Golden Maxwell, who survive. He married his beloved wife Joan Rankin Maxwell on June 17, 1977.
He was retired from Ohio State Fire Marshall's Office.
His memberships included Past Master of Indian Lake Lodge #722 Free &
Accepted Masons; Grand Council Royal& Select Masons of Ohio: Logan Council
#85; Super Excellent Master Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Ohio;
Lafayette Chapter #60; Bellefontaine Commandery #61 Knights Templar; Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies-
Valley of Dayton, Ohio; Antioch Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine, Dayton, Ohio; Royal Order of Jesters, Dayton Ohio Court #10; Life
Member of Kachina Billiken Klub, Tempe, AZ; Logan County Shrine Club;
Logan County 32 Club; Champaign County Shrine Club; International Shrine Clown Association; Director Emeritusand Life Member of the Antioch Shrine Funster Clown Unit; 15 Year Circa Member Ohio Art Education
Association; Past Commander of Power Squadron, Lima, Ohio; Russells Point Fire Department Dive Team, Russells Point, Ohio; Russells Point Fire Department, Russells Point, Ohio.
He enjoyed photography, sailing, RV-ing and riding his Gold Wing motorcycle. His passions were the local Fire Department, and clowning. Barry's minister relayed one story where Barry responded to a fire call, dressed in his clown costume and make up.
Remembered as joyful and optimistic, his fellow clowns admired his dedication, and was installed as President of the Great Lakes Shrine Clown Unit Association just 7 days before he was called to the Celestial Lodge above.
Sixteen members of the Antioch Shrine Funster Clown Unit in costume and makeup attended the funeral service at Barry's church. One member was quoted in the local newspaper as follows;
"We are here to pay our respect in costume and makeup,
as it is the highest honor we can bestow to Barry and his family."
Another clown was quoted as saying, "we are all going to miss Barry
and we are all going to cry today."
On completion of the funeral service at the church, the Antioch Funster
Clown Unit were pallbearers, while other clowns escorted Barry's mother,
father, wife and sister to their vehicles. The funeral procession was led
under two extended ladders of area fire department trucks.
At the service in the cemetery, Barry's flag draped casket was carried by members of the fire department to the grave space through a double line of the clowns after the clowns escorted the family to the graveside.
The entire funeral was one that Barry so deserved.
Memorial contributions, at the family's request, are solicited
for the Antioch Shrine Funster Clown Unit, P.O. Box548,Bellefontaine,Ohio
43311-0548.