George Barrera

George Barrera passed away after a brief illness, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, laughter, adventure, and deep devotion to his family and friends. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and cherished friend, he lived life with unmatched fullness and joy.

Born on September 3, 1944, in Saginaw, Michigan, George was the son of the late Luis and Carmen (Mendez) Barrera. He graduated from St. Andrew’s with the Class of 1962. On November 21, 1964, he married the love of his life, Linda, and together they built a family and a life filled with love and shared adventures. George dedicated 30 years to General Motors, retiring as a Millwright.

In retirement, he embraced his many passions with characteristic enthusiasm. He created beautiful pieces in his woodworking shop, painted cars, skied, windsurfed, rode motorcycles, bicycled through the Rocky Mountains, and raced anything he could. George had a gift for capturing meaningful moments through photography and brought lively passion to cheering on his favorite football and basketball teams. Above all, he treasured time spent with family and friends, whether at gatherings, shared meals, or simple everyday moments. For more than 15 years, he and Linda spent winters in Florida, where they became beloved members of a close-knit community that felt like a second family.

George is survived by his beloved wife, Linda; his children, George (Lee) Barrera and Ann (John) Pollard; his grandchildren, Gabrielle (Jae) Park, Hillary (Mason) Spendow, Alyssa McGrandy, Alexis (Joe) Lobeck, and Emily Pollard; his great-grandchildren, Jet, Abe, and Felix; his brothers, Bob Barrera and Bill Barrera; and his sister, Virginia Hidalgo. He is also survived by his in-laws, Sharon (Jerry) Fairchild, Pat Zielinski, George (Lynn) Kralosky, Joe Pelon, Tim Kralosky, and Mark (Lisa) Kralosky, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Luis and Carmen Barrera; his brother, Ed Barrera; and his sisters-in-law, Bertha Pelon, Betty Burnell, Dorothy Barrera, Etta Barrera and brother-in-law Mike Hidalgo.

George Barrera did not simply pass through this world—he raced through it, savored it, and filled every corner of it with love. He will be forever missed and forever remembered.