Julia Elizabeth Barry

No Ordinary person, Elizabeth (Julia to many) Barry distinguished herself in her career and with her family passed away Thursday, March 19, 2020.

Tokyo, Quito Ecuador, Helsinki, Geneva and Vienna were places she lived on assignment with the State Department of the U.S., always returning to Washington, DC for furlough.  As a member of the Strategic Arms Limitations (S.A.L.T.) team, she helped forge international treaties to avoid nuclear proliferation during the Cold War and was given a Commendation for her service by the United Nations Command, personally signed by all the delegates. 

Born in Fosterville, Tennessee, Julia graduated from Chattanooga Central May 19, 1944 and went on to business school at the University of Chattanooga.  After WWII ended, she answered an ad for office help in Tokyo working for the State Department during reconstruction.  It became her lifelong career.

To her family and friends, she was kind and beautiful inside and out beyond even her career accomplishments.  No doubt she was refined, gentle and soft-spoken, yet having a strength of character possessed by those from rural America who survived the Depression.  She never married, but loved her family and doted on her many nephews as if they were her own. 

Throughout her life she was loving, sweet and humble, endearing herself to all.  We were so very blessed to have her for 93 yrs.

Preceded in death by her parents, Rufus and Ethel Barry, and two brothers, John and Howard Barry, she is survived by her brother, Kenneth Barry of Union Grove, Alabama, and several nephews.

Graveside services will be 1:00p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2020 at Greenwood Cemetery.

South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, located at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville is honored to serve the family of Elizabeth Barry.