Barry J Halvorson

Barry James Halvorson, 55, of Wharton, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 at Kindred Hospital in Sugar Land, the day before his birthday, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Sept. 24, 1959 at Williams Air Force Base in Chandler, Ariz. He was the son of James Arthur Halvorson and the late Joanne Gyda Halvorson. Barry attended Texas Tech University and graduated from Texas Lutheran University. He was a newspaper reporter for many years, working at the Seguin Gazette, the Victoria Advocate, the Wharton Journal-Spectator and the Bay City Tribune. Although perhaps best known for his sports coverage and commentary, Barry covered dozens of beats, including everything from law enforcement to education to city and county politics. There was not a subject he could not handle, and he embraced each assignment with vigor and his characteristic wit. Barry was an avid Texas Tech and Green Bay Packer fan and collected sports cards from an early age, amassing a sizeable collection. He was also a voracious reader, known to carry a novel with him just about everywhere he went – even to city and county meetings in the anticipation of lengthy executive sessions. Barry married the love of his life, Helen Sevier Halvorson, on Aug. 28, 2015 while a patient at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Sugar Land. One of Barry’s longtime friends and former managing editor of the Journal-Spectator, Jeremy Heath, arranged the special ceremony. Family and former newspaper co-workers were on hand. In addition to his wife, the other love of Barry’s life was his Australian Shepherd, Polly. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at Wharton Funeral Home. Barry is survived by his wife, Helen, of Wharton; father, James Arthur Halvorson, of Universal City; brother, Dean William Halvorson and wife, Lee Ann, of San Antonio; sister, Sheri Lynn Halvorson Jensen and husband, Dane, of Schertz; and several nieces and nephews, Amber, Ashley, Abbie, Riley and Niklas.