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Paul B. Barney, 96, born at home in Cornatzer on Aug. 2, 1923 to George Anderson Barney and Mattie Hendrix Barney, died at Forsyth Medical Center on Sunday, May 3 after an extended illness.

He grew up on the family farm in Mocksville and attended Shady Grove School. He entered the Army on April 4, 1944 via Fort Bragg. He was a private in Company M, 2nd Infantry, 5th Division as a heavy machine gunner in the Rhineland Campaign. He entered Europe via Normandy Beach. On Dec. 26, 1944 around 4 p.m., he was critically wounded in World War II’s Battle of the Bulge between Luxembourg and Bastogne. He was honorably discharged due to service disability on July 21, 1945. He was the recipient of a Purple Heart, a European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and a WWII Victory Medal for his bravery and sacrifice. He was a member of the first WWII Veterans High School Commencement Ceremony held on Nov. 1, 2001 in the NC Department of Public Instruction Education Building in Raleigh. He enjoyed attending ceremonies honoring WWII Veterans and NW Piedmont Purple Heart recipients; he attended the Triad Flight of Honor on May 11, 2010. He retired from P.H. Hanes Knitting Co. and was a fan of baseball.

He married Lois Beeson on Dec. 18, 1948 and resided in Hillsdale for 70 years. Their children are Michael (deceased) Barney, Marcia L. Barney and Stephen K. Barney. They have four grandchildren: Kami L. Periman, Ryan N. Barney, Shawn (Mindi) Barney and Tracy (Stephanie) Barney; 8 great-grandchildren: Lorian Barney, Kaleb Barney, Trenton Barney, Isaac Barney, Katie-Grace Barney, Carter Barney, Aiden Barney and Raelyn Barney.

He is pre-deceased by: his parents; son, Michael Barney; brother, Calvin Barney; and sisters, Clara Barney, Lucy Barney and Ava Jones.

Also surviving: sisters, Ella Smith and Alma Shoaf; daughter-in-law, Judy (Dana) McKenzie; and sisters-in-law, Loretta (Wesley) Vanhoy and Frances M. Barney.

Memorials: Cornatzer Baptist, 1372 Cornatzer Road, Mocksville; or to the Davie Community Foundation with funds designated for the Davie County Heroes Fund for Veterans, 107 N. Salisbury St., Mocksville.

A private graveside service will be held on Wednesday, May 6.

Condolences: www.hayworth-miller.com.