Richard Thomas Barbour's Obituary
Richard Thomas Barbour, 53, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on March 18, 2017. Richard was born June 12, 1963 in Portland Oregon to Eileen Barbour and the late John E. Barbour, Sr. Raised in Hampton, Virginia, Richard attended Peninsula Catholic High School and Old Dominion University, where he was a founding member of the ODU chapter of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity. Richard moved to Nashville with his wife Betsy in 1996 to work at Envoy Corporation (later Emdeon Corp and currently Change Healthcare), where he was employed in various programmer/analyst positions until 2010, when he retired for health reasons.
Richard received a life-saving lung transplant at Vanderbilt University Hospital in August, 2011. Thanks to the Vanderbilt Lung Transplant program and the donor whose lungs Richard received, Richard made the most of the amazing gift he was given – spending precious time with family and friends, and offering support and encouragement not only to his fellow transplant patients, but everyone he knew.
Richard leaves behind his wife, Elizabeth (Betsy) Barbour of Nashville, mother, Eileen Barbour of Norfolk, Virginia, sister and brother-in-law Ann and Paul Miller of Norfolk, Virginia, brother John E. Barbour, Jr., five nephews and a niece, numerous cousins, and many dear friends.
The family would like to give special thanks to Richard’s care team, including Vanderbilt Lung Transplant, the 7th and 8th floor Critical Care Tower nurses, and all who cared for Richard over the last five ½ years.
A memorial service will be held at Eastwood Christian Church, 1601 Eastland Ave., Nashville, TN 37206 on April 29, 2017 at 11 am, with a meal celebrating Richard’s life to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Assistance Fund at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1313 21st Ave. S 1105 Oxford House, Nashville, TN 37232 which will help make the amazing gift of a life-saving lung transplant possible for other patients who suffer from advanced lung disease.
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