Kent Otto Barrow, 75, of Springfield, IL, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Kent was born on April 10, 1951, to Charles and Esther (von Behren) Barrow in Springfield, IL. He married Deborah Lynn Philmon on June 17, 1972, and she survives.
Kent is survived by his wife; son, Brent Barrow; daughter, Stacy (Jeff) Curtis; grandson, Brayden (Abigail) Curtis; granddaughter, Kenzie Curtis; sister-in-law, Donna Toigo; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Kurt Barrow.
Kent graduated in 1969 from Lanphier High School. He continued his education, earning a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration and Management from Illinois State University, graduating in 1973.
He began his career at Hobbs/Honeywell as a Foreman and worked his way to becoming the Manager of Operations by the end of his 37 years there. He later joined DICKEY-john as a Value Stream Manager, retiring after a long and dedicated career.
He was a proud member of the Hobbs Golf League for 50 years, an accomplishment he cherished. Golf was one of his greatest passions and brought him immense joy, especially as it allowed him to spend time with the many friends he made over the years.
He deeply loved his family and treasured the time they spent together, whether grilling meals, gathering every Thursday with his family, or going out to dinner each Friday with his wife and sister-in-law.
He also enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas to visit his son and traveling to Disney where he made many memories.
Kent took great pride in his yard and garden. He loved spending time with his dog and buddy, Grace, watching golf on tv, and cheering on his favorite teams: the St. Louis Cardinals, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Chicago Bears.
He was a dedicated member of West Side Christian Church. Kent and Debbie shared 58 years together, walking a path filled with both celebrations and trials. Through all the good and the difficult times, their faith sustained them and made them stronger. God was with him, shaping him into the man he became. Through those 58 years of joy and hardship, he believed that with God, you have all you need.
Visitation: 9:00 am - 11:00 am, Friday, May 8, 2026, at West Side Christian Church.
Funeral Service: 11:00 am, Friday, May 8, 2026, at West Side Christian Church with Cindy Lash officiating. Burial will proceed to Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family invites those in attendance to join them for a luncheon following the graveside service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health.
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