Barringer Fox Wingard, Jr.

          It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Colonel (retired) Barringer Fox Wingard, Jr. (77) of Florence, SC on Sunday, November 17, 2024.

          Colonel Barry Wingard was a native of Clinton, SC, a son of Brigadier General Barringer Fox Wingard, Sr. and Nell Wasson Wingard.  Barry was a lifelong citizen of South Carolina. He has resided in Florence since 2000, where he moved as he neared retirement after nearly 36 years in the Army and the SC National Guard, including over 20 years in active duty status.

          Colonel Wingard earned a BS in Criminal Justice from Georgia Southern College, an MS in Administration from Central Michigan University, and graduated from the US Army War College with emphasis on Strategic Studies.

          His military assignments included nearly five years as a staff officer in the Army and the National Guard Global Counterdrug Divisions, four years as Assistant Professor of Military Science at Georgia Institute of Technology, and five years on the staff and faculty of the US Army War College.

          Following 34 months of retirement, Colonel Wingard accepted a voluntary recall to active duty. The result was an additional 26 months of service and included nearly 11 months in Afghanistan where he was the Chief, Operations Division, Police Reform Directorate. His office was responsible for recruiting, organizing, training, and equipping the 53,000 person Afghan National Police. Upon redeployment, Colonel Wingard was assigned as the Provost Marshal and Chief, Security, Law Enforcement, & Force Protection for the US Army Materiel Command headquartered at Fort Belvoir, VA, with responsibility for 53,000 soldiers and civilians at 34 installations in the US and several overseas locations. 

          Among his military decorations are multiple awards of the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Bronze Star. Colonel Wingard was also awarded the Silver Medal, Order of Marchausee, for lifelong contributions to the U.S. Army Military Police Corps.

          In the community, Colonel Wingard volunteered with several groups and served on the Boards of Directors for both the Friends of the Library and the Florence Rotary Club as well as Chair of the Advisory Board for McLeod Men. He was the Chairman of the Florence Veterans Park which exhibits award winning memorials and pays tribute to those in the Pee Dee region who have served in the armed forces, and was one of three persons nominated by the governor in 2004 to serve on a committee to establish a monument to veterans on the South Carolina State House grounds.  So treasured was his service in this space, he was honored with being named the 2016 Veteran of the Year for the Pee Dee area.  His commitment to the local community and particularly to veterans was strong, steadfast, and unwavering. 

          Colonel Wingard is a founding member of St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church.

          He was devoted to his country, his state, his city and his family.  He was a Southern gentleman who thought all people deserve respect, opportunity and to be heard.

          Colonel Wingard is survived by his wife, Carrington; children Barringer “Bif” Fox Wingard, III and his wife Liz Letzelter; Krista Wingard Dickson and her husband Matt; Margaret “Meggie” Baker Daniel and her husband Ben; and three grandchildren, Emma, Luke, and Sophie Daniel.  He is predeceased by his parents and three siblings Barrie Jean, Nell and James Claude.

          Funeral arrangements are being handled with grace by the Waters-Powell Funeral Home.  Visitation with family will be held at Waters-Powell Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 pm and other times at the Wingard home. Funeral service, conducted by the Reverend Eunice Dunlap of St Catherine’s Episcopal Church, will be held at Waters-Powell Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 10:00 am with a burial to follow immediately after at the Florence National Cemetery.  

          In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent for the Florence Veterans Park, City of Florence in care of the Veterans Park Committee, 324 W Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501; the Florence Area Humane Society, P. O. Box 4808, Florence, SC 29502; and McLeod Men, McLeod Health Foundation, P. O. Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502.

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