Barney Michael Pitchford

Barney Michael Pitchford, 86, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, and friend died at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hawthorne Inn of Jerseyville. Born September 10, 1939, in Sesser, Illinois, he was the son of Clyde and Marie (Thomas) Pitchford. Mike (Barney) was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of the North Alton Southern Baptist Church. Mike held many jobs during his lifetime, and he loved talking about them. He retired as a pipefitter after many long years working at Shell Refinery. On June 5, 1965, he married Margaret Ann Barrow. She was the love of his life and the two were devoted to each other. Margaret died on March 21, 2023. Mike is survived by one sister, Gladys Hindelang, of Edwardsville, nephews Jeff, Craig, and Brian Hindelang, nieces, Julie Burgess, Linda (Jim) Allen, Charlotte (Clint) Hill, several great nieces and nephews, aunts, Dorothy Hazelwonder and Leona Hawkins, and several cousins. Besides his parents and wife, Mike was preceded in death by brothers Clyde Earl and Kenneth Ray Pitchford. Mike (Barney) was a storyteller extraordinaire. His specialty was telling tall tales in which he was the main character. People will remember him as a talker who loved to share jokes and riddles and regale those he met with all kinds of trivia. Mike never met a stranger. He enjoyed reading, memorizing scripture, and making crafts (whittling monkeys from peach pits, creating Jacob’s ladders, crafting beaded reindeer, etc.). Mike was generous – with his time, with his talents, with his possessions, and with the candy he carried in his pocket to distribute to others. Mike loved animals, especially dogs. He also loved people, and he and Margaret helped many during their lifetime together. Those who knew Mike (Barney) will never forget him – he certainly left an impression. Those who knew him well, will miss him, not so much for the many stories he repeatedly told, but because we knew his big heart and his positive outlook when it came to people; especially to the people he loved. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey. Reverends Steven Helfrich and Sonny Renken will officiate. Memorials may be made to North Alton Southern Baptist Church or the 5A’s animal shelter. Additional information and online guest book may be found at www. gentfuneralhome.com.

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Barney Michael Pitchford

September 10, 1939 - March 7, 2026