Obituary for Barry E. Golembiewski
Barry E. Golembiewski, SMSgt., USAF (Ret) of Reinholds, PA passed away on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Reading Hospital. Born in Reading, PA on August 24, 1942 to Joseph S. and Irene F. (Jablonski) Golembiewski (both deceased), he was the eldest of four children.
Raised in Reading, PA, he attended Tyson-Schoener, St. Peter’s Catholic, St. Joseph’s Catholic, Central Catholic, and Reading High Schools, graduating in June 1960.
He was predeceased by sister Linda L. Cote and is survived by sister Sharon L. Morgan (Fleetwood, PA) and brother Darrell J. Golembiewski (Kenhorst, PA).
He has a son, Stephen P. Golembiewski, married to Sarah L. (Badger), and a grandson, Adam L. Golembiewski, all of Walesby, UK. Extended family consists of a granddaughter, Ashley N. Wethington, and two great-granddaughters, Emma-Brooke and Holland-Jo Wethington of Frankfort, KY.
Barry enlisted in the Air Force in January 1961 and completed Basic Training at Lackland AFB, TX and Chanute AFB, IL. He was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford, UK, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, Chanute AFB, IL, Charleston AFB, SC, Brasilia, Brasil, Cu Chi Army Base and Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam, RAF Alconbury, UK, Wurtsmith AFB, MI, ARMISH-MAAG, Tehran, Iran, Katterbach AHP (Ansbach), Germany, and finally Langley AFB, VA where he retired in December, 1982 with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant (E-8).
His career field in the Air Force was Meteorology. He held the positions of Weather Observer, Weather Forecaster, Chief Forecaster, Weather Satellite/Radar Operator, Solar Analyst, Chief of Solar Operations, Weather Wing Plans NCO and Chief, Weather Station Operations (Station Chief). He also attended the MAC NCO Academy and USAF Senior NCO Academy in residence.
He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Longevity Ribbon with four Oak Leaf Clusters, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon with one Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Device, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal upon retirement.
Upon retirement from the Air Force, he began working at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA as a contractor Meteorologist where he stayed for 25 years. He provided weather support to the Center, Safety Office, Flight Service Office, and aircraft research projects. Some of the companies he worked for as a contractor were the Planning Services Company, Planning Research Corporation, Kentron, Lockheed-Martin, NYMA, Inc., Swales Aerospace, and ATK. He retired from the workforce in August 2007.
He was affiliated with the Air Western Association, Air Force Association, and was an Associate Member of the American Meteorological Society, AARP, Berks Encore, and AAA.
He had a passion for traveling and would take off on a day, weekend, or a vacation trip on a moment’s notice. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading with inurnment to follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.
Raised in Reading, PA, he attended Tyson-Schoener, St. Peter’s Catholic, St. Joseph’s Catholic, Central Catholic, and Reading High Schools, graduating in June 1960.
He was predeceased by sister Linda L. Cote and is survived by sister Sharon L. Morgan (Fleetwood, PA) and brother Darrell J. Golembiewski (Kenhorst, PA).
He has a son, Stephen P. Golembiewski, married to Sarah L. (Badger), and a grandson, Adam L. Golembiewski, all of Walesby, UK. Extended family consists of a granddaughter, Ashley N. Wethington, and two great-granddaughters, Emma-Brooke and Holland-Jo Wethington of Frankfort, KY.
Barry enlisted in the Air Force in January 1961 and completed Basic Training at Lackland AFB, TX and Chanute AFB, IL. He was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford, UK, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, Chanute AFB, IL, Charleston AFB, SC, Brasilia, Brasil, Cu Chi Army Base and Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam, RAF Alconbury, UK, Wurtsmith AFB, MI, ARMISH-MAAG, Tehran, Iran, Katterbach AHP (Ansbach), Germany, and finally Langley AFB, VA where he retired in December, 1982 with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant (E-8).
His career field in the Air Force was Meteorology. He held the positions of Weather Observer, Weather Forecaster, Chief Forecaster, Weather Satellite/Radar Operator, Solar Analyst, Chief of Solar Operations, Weather Wing Plans NCO and Chief, Weather Station Operations (Station Chief). He also attended the MAC NCO Academy and USAF Senior NCO Academy in residence.
He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Longevity Ribbon with four Oak Leaf Clusters, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon with one Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Device, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal upon retirement.
Upon retirement from the Air Force, he began working at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA as a contractor Meteorologist where he stayed for 25 years. He provided weather support to the Center, Safety Office, Flight Service Office, and aircraft research projects. Some of the companies he worked for as a contractor were the Planning Services Company, Planning Research Corporation, Kentron, Lockheed-Martin, NYMA, Inc., Swales Aerospace, and ATK. He retired from the workforce in August 2007.
He was affiliated with the Air Western Association, Air Force Association, and was an Associate Member of the American Meteorological Society, AARP, Berks Encore, and AAA.
He had a passion for traveling and would take off on a day, weekend, or a vacation trip on a moment’s notice. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading with inurnment to follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.