More detail on this person: July 9, 1946 - Jan.
27, 2014 SOUTH BEND - Barney was born in
Ponca City, Oklahoma, and grew up on a cattle
ranch on the Osage Indian Reservation in north
central Oklahoma. Shortly after high school, he
was drafted but opted to join the Marine Corps.
After completing officer's school and earning his
college degree, he was commissioned a Second
Lieutenant and ordered to the Navy Flight School.
Upon graduation he was designated a pilot in the
CH-53 Sikorsky helicopter. Over the next 22 years
he was able to participate in many exciting,
challenging missions and travel to many parts of
the world including S.E. Asia, The Philippines,
Malaysia, Norway, Africa and the Middle East.
After his retirement from the Marine Corps, he met
the love of his life, Gwen Finger, a native of
South Bend. They married and moved to Jackson
Hole, WY, where Barney was elected twice to be
the Mayor of Jackson Hole. Barney's parents,
Frances and W. Baird Oldfield, his brother, Lee
Oldfield, and his father-in-law, Tuggy Finger,
preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife,
Gwen; brother, Ladd (Sue) Oldfield; sister, Amy
(Wayne Ray Mitchell) Oldfield; sister-in-law,
Robbie Oldfield; mother-in-law, Deloris Finger;
brother-in-law, Gary (Malia) Finger; nieces and
nephews, Sarah (Grant) Myers, Will Oldfield, Clara
Cunningham, Jennifer (Kyle) Allen and Zane Finger;
also great-nieces and nephews, Ryan, Allyssa,
Emmett, Hailey, Whitney, Ashton and Emma.
Barney and Gwen moved to South Bend after
Barney completed his second term as Mayor.
Barney always said this was the best place he had
ever lived and it's because of the great
friendships he made with family, neighbors and
friends. His philosophy on life is: "The more
friendships you can develop, the more places you
can go and the more adventures you can have, the
richer and fuller your life will be." Barney lived
a rich, full life. There will be visitation with
friends and family at Kaniewski's Funeral Home,
3545 Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN, on Saturday,
Feb. 1, 2014, from 10 AM until noon. At noon there
will be a service. Private burial will follow. In
lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
charity of your choice . To send condolences,
please visit www.kaniewski.com
Published in South Bend Tribune on Jan. 30, 2014
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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