Eliot - John Barnard of Eliot, age 72, son of John E Barnard and Virginia Bennett Barnard, died on December 18. John graduated from Eliot High School, class of 1962. Upon graduating, John joined the Navy. He was a member of the Naval Construction Battalions, having served in Vietnam, England, and California. When his four year enlistment was up, he returned home to Eliot where he worked on the road crew. He later worked on the Navy Yard as a welder. He retired at age 50 in 1993.  John grew restless as a retiree, so he returned to the town of Eliot and worked on the Road Crew and at the Eliot transfer station. That suited John just fine, because he would get up early and get his job done. He arose at 3:30 a. m. before the sunrise. Anyone who knew John knows that he loved to "spin a yarn"; and he did know how to spin!

John was predeceased by his father, John E Barnard, his mother, Virginia Bennett Barnard Staples, his sister, Judith Barnard, and his brother, Tilden Barnard. He is survived by his sisters, Ruth Sheffer of Missouri, and Ginger (Dan) Collier of Pennsylvania, paternal cousins David Leavitt, Edward Leavitt, and Patricia Blaney Krugel, and maternal cousins, Evelyn Meserve, Julia Libby, Gene Libby, and Paul Libby. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

Services for John will be held in the spring. John was a firm supporter of our military and would request that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. Alternatively, a donation can be made to the William Fogg Library in Eliot.