William Brent Barbour 87 of La PLata, Md. died Thursday January 10, 2013 at CIVISTA Medical Center after a long battle with congestive heart failure. Born in Port Tobacco, Maryland on January 24, 1925 to Bruce and Ola Cooksey Barbour.

Brent attended La Plata High School until the second semester of his senior year when he and the rest of his male classmates were granted early diplomas to fight in World War II. At 19 Brent went ashore in the second wave of the D-Day invasion of Normandy; for this he received a medal and commendation from France on D-Day's fiftieth anniversary in 1994. La Plata High School invited Brent (and other surviving classmates) to walk the stage and actually receive his high school diploma with the graduating class of 1992.

After returning from the war Brent worked first as a driver for Southern Maryland Oil Company in La Plata. Later he managed a full-service Texaco Station on Route 301 in La Plata-his was the only AAA facility between La Plata and Richmond in the 1950's. Around La Plata Brent drove a red truck with a sigh reading "invite us to your next blowout!" Brent spent the final phase of his career working at the Naval Ordinance Station in weaponry x-ray. After retiring in 1985 he worked several years as a consultant.

A lifetime member of the American Legion Harry White Wilmer Post 82 in La Plata, Brent served as a Color Guard.

Surviving Brent is his loving and devoted wife of 66 years, Mary Ellen; his three children- Mary Brent (married to Alan Marks) of San Antonio, Texas; Carole Anne Clark of Alexandria, Virginia; and William (married to Susan Johnson) of Friendswood, Texas. He doted on his only grandchild, Alexander Fairfax Marks (Alex) of New York City. Preceding Brent in death were his sisters Eloise Simpson and Lorraine Medford and brother Russell Barbour. Brent is survived by his brother Elwood (Pete) Barbour of La Plata and his sister Lola Seifert of Salisbury, Maryland. Brent leaves many, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation is on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 from 2 to 4 P.M. and 6 to 8 P.M. with prayers at 7 P.M. at the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home in La Plata, Md. A funeral mass honoring Brent will be celebrated at 10 A.M. Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Plata. A private military burial will follow at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the Richard Clark Senior Center, 1210 Charles Street, La Plata, Md. 20646 and the Charles County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 40 La Plata, Md. 20646.

Arrangements provided by Arehart-Echols Funeral Home.