Obituary of William Barry Harlowe

William Barry Harlowe age 59 resident of Lovettsville Virginia passed away quietly in his sleep on the morning of July 31st, surrounded by his family. For the past seventeen months he suffered from the ravages of Giloblastoma, one of the most deadly forms of brain cancer.

For more then twenty-six years Barry worked in Fairfax County as a firefighter, promoted to the rank of Captain II.  During his career, Barry worked as a fire marshal and arson investigator. As such he participated in many high profile arson investigations. On one such investigation, Barry was assigned to the Region Serial Arsonist Task Force. The task force was responsible for the investigation, arrest, and finally the prosecution of the “Washington D.C. Serial Arsonist”. Barry was a great employee and he was a great supervisor. He was loved by his fellow firefighters. Many of them spent hours with him at the hospital visiting with him daily. They told stories about their adventures and the fun they had. Many laughs, some tears, and lots hugs were exchanged. 

After Barry retired from the fire department he took classes and earned his real estate license. His second career began with Keller Williams Realty Reston. He steadily rose in the ranks at Keller Williams. He was well respected and loved by those who worked for him, and by those he worked for. Every day as many of four of his workmates visited him at the hospital. They were a great comfort to him and to his family. 

Barry was a talented musician, photographer, golfer, and fisherman. What he wanted most in life was to sit on the dock in the Outer Banks with a fishing pole in his hand and the sun on his face. 

Barry is survived by his three children; Madeline Harlowe, Emma Harlowe and Joshua Harlowe; his sisters, Deborah Harlowe Daughtry (Howard) and Madeline Gwynn Harlowe (Jan Collins); his niece, Katie Daughtry, his nephew, Nic Daughtry and numerous cousins. Barry’s parents, William Ira Harlowe and Eva Joan Gerber Harlowe, and his brother Carl Owen Harlowe preceded him in death.

Barry participated in a Giloblastoma Clinical Trial at the Duke University, PRT Brain Tumor Center in Durham North Carolina. To help fund this vital brain cancer research project, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Barry’s name to the: 

Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center

DUMC Box 3614,

Durham, NC 27710

https://www.gifts.duke.edu/dukehealth/?designation=3912597

A remembrance ceremony will be held at the Cornerstone Chapel of Leesburg, September 12th at 11:00 am. The Chapel is located at 650 Battlefield Pkwy SE, Leesburg, Virginia.

The family wishes to thank all of Barry’s friends for their support during the past seventeen months – it has meant the world to us.