Memorial

William J. Bid Barron Jr., 78, of 195 Braybrook S.E., died Friday at his residence following a sudden illness. Services: 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Friends may call at the Cedar Memorial Funeral Home from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. A private family entombment will take place at Cedar Memorial Mausoleum.
Surviving are 2 sons, Bill and wife Lu Barron and John and wife Cindy Barron, both of Cedar Rapids, a sister, Lorraine Richard Layman of Waterloo and 5 grandchildren, Elizabeth, BJ, Jamie, Barbara and Chad.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Alyce Mary.
He was born August 13, 1927 in Cedar Rapids to William and Ruth Henry Barron Sr. and was married to Alyce Mary Chadima on June 20, 1949.
Following Franklin High School, he entered the U.S. Navy and was a First Class Seaman having served during World War II. He then received his BA degree from the University of Iowa in 1950, where he was affiliated with the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
Succeeding his father as owner and president of Barron Motor Supply, currently a third generation family business, he was still active and played a major role until the time of his death.
He was a member of the First Congregational Church where he was a trustee, a former director of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, director of Automotive Service Industries Association, director of the National Association of Manufactures and Wholesalers in the Automotive After Market, and was president of Distributor's Institute.
Mr. Barron was past president of the Cedar Rapids Country Club in 1977, was chairman of the Linn County Draft Board 1966, was a director of Public Health Nursing, past president of Iowa Automotive Wholesaler Association, received the Iowa City Boss of the Year Award in 1960 and was formerly on the board of directors of Peoples Bank and Trust Company. He was also a member of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Brucemore and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.
Bid was an avid reader, accomplished cook, and enjoyed playing cards and fishing. He was a great lover of life, enjoying time spent with his grandchildren, family and many dear friends.
In lieu of flowers, friends may, if they wish make contributions to the American Heart Association, 3741 Center Point Rd. N.E., 52402 or St. Luke's Hospice, c/o St. Luke's Hospital, 1026 A Ave. N.E., 52402.