James Thomas Barbour – May 18, 2025

James Thomas Barbour (Tom) passed away on May 18, 2025. He was 83 years old.  James was a resident of Calhan, Colorado for 30 years.  He was born December 8, 1941 in Elk City, Oklahoma to Marvin B. Barbour and Verna Lee (Gamble) Barbour.  They moved to Hotchkiss, Colorado in July of 1953 where he and his brothers were raised through their high school years.  He was an athlete in high school where he played football, basketball and baseball.  After graduating Hotchkiss High School in 1960 he joined the local #9 operating engineers and operated and worked on heavy equipment.  On January 23, 1964 he was drafted into the US Army and stationed at West Point, NY.  He earned commendations as a sharpshooter and was awarded a good conduct medal. It was here that he met his wife of 58 years; Patricia Alice (Medlar) Barbour; He was discharged after his first term on January 21, 1966, and they were married on January 29th, 1966, in Yonkers, New York.  As the story goes, they got married in a snowstorm and the reception featured the very first Super Bowl.  They watched the game and got in the car and headed west.  He remained in the Army reserves until January 22, 1970. During this time, they lived in Basalt, Colorado and he worked in the mountains of Colorado excavating numerous roads and reservoirs. They had their first 2 children, Deborah Anne Barbour (Lindquist) and Robert Duane Barbour in Glenwood Springs, Colorado before moving and settling in Widefield, Colorado in 1970 and having another child, James T Barbour Jr. During this time, he worked with his brother, Marvin Barbour, at Barbour Construction in Colorado Springs before moving to Connecticut in 1988 and then to California in 1990 returning to Colorado Springs in 1996 and spent the remainder of his career working for G.E. Johnson Construction and retired in 2003.

Tom was a hard worker and dedicated husband.  He provided very well for his family.  He liked to tinker in the garage where he spent time with his children teaching them all the basics of how to take care of a vehicle, change the oil, brakes, check fluids, etc.  He enjoyed hunting for elk and deer in the Colorado mountains with his family and friends.  Most of his leisure time was spent working on cars in the garage on the weekends. Sundays were always reserved for the Denver Broncos football games during the season, he was a true loyal Denver Broncos fan!  Summer vacations were an every year occasion; Yellowstone National Park, Niagara Falls, New York City, Disney World and the Grand Canyon to name a few. 

Tom is survived by his brother, Norvel Barbour (Glenda Barbour); his 3 children, Deborah Anne (Barbour) Lindquist (Randy Lamontagne), Robert Duane Barbour (Carolyn Barbour), and James Thomas Barbour Jr.; his 2 grandchildren, Samantha Patricia Heron (Bradley Wells), and William Isaac Baca (Amanda Jade (Wright) Baca. He was also blessed with 5 great-grandchildren: Alyssa Deborah Heron (17), Reagan Eleanor Heron (15), Travis Strawser (15), Bradley Isaac Wells (4), and Miles Vincent Baca (5 ½ months). 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Alice (Medlar) Barbour; parents, Marvin Boone Barbour and Verna Lee (Gamble) Barbour; his brother, Marvin Grant Barbour.

A Visitation in honor of Tom will be held at 9:00AM, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, followed by a 10:00AM Funeral Service at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel, 1730 East Fountain Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80910. A burial will be held at 12:00PM, following the service at Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80925. A reception will follow at Debi’s home, 2516 Prescott Circle West, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80916.